Yorkshire Phoenix wilted under a terrific assault from Owais Shah on their first visit to Southgate yesterday as Middlesex Crusaders extended their lead at the top of the Second Division of the totesport League.

They were revived by a savage 96 not out from Anthony McGrath, but still finished 16 runs short of Middlesex's 273 for six which is the third highest score they have made against Yorkshire.

Shah, who hit 81 in the first match between the sides at Headingley a month ago, was even more brutal this time, smashing an unbeaten 125 off 126 balls with five big sixes and seven fours.

Shah's chanceless innings was the joint seventh highest recorded against Yorkshire and the best since Gloucestershire's Shaun Young slammed an unbeaten 146 at Headingley in 1997.

Put in to bat on a boiling day, Middlesex lost two quick wickets to Steve Kirby to pave the way for Shah's arrival in only the fourth over.

Both Kirby and Tim Bresnan bowled well in their opening spells before Shah cut loose and Bresnan sent down eight overs off the reel with the new ball for just 15 runs. He was rested and brought back for the final over, but Shah made a mess of his figures by driving the last three balls of the innings for colossal sixes over long-on.

Middlesex captain Ben Hutton, grandson of Sir Leonard and son of Richard, who was at the match, partnered Shah in a third-wicket stand of 71 and Shah also received solid support from James Dalrymple with 57 for the fourth wicket and David Nash with 86 in 12 overs for the fifth.

Shah striked the ball so well that Middlesex piled up 62 off the last five overs to leave Yorkshire with a difficult task on their hands.

Ian Harvey and Matthew Wood both scored freely before getting out to Simon Cook, but Yorkshire were pegged back at the other end by Australia's pace ace Glenn McGrath, who was rested after six overs cost him 20 runs.

Yorkshire's McGrath, who cracked 174 in the drawn Championship match at Derby the previous day, was in the same uncompromising form and he joined Andrew Gale in a useful stand of 55 which ended when Gale was neatly held deep on the legside by Glenn McGrath for 45.

Nobody was then able to keep Anthony McGrath company for very long and there were some tame dismissals, Bresnan not having his back foot in the crease when wicketkeeper Ben Scott whipped off the bails and Ismail Dawood getting into a horrible muddle which led to him being run out.

There was still hope while McGrath survived, however, and consecutive straight sixes off Paul Weekes left Yorkshire requiring 51 from five overs, but the return of Glenn McGrath tightened things up again and the task proved too difficult, Anthony McGrath finishing with five sixes and four fours in his 90-ball innings.

l Anthony McGrath was able to reflect on the greatest all-round performance of his career after Yorkshire's Championship match against Derbyshire came to a dramatic close at Derby on Saturday.

Following up career-best bowling figures of five for 39 earlier in the game, McGrath hammered out his highest score of 174 off 229 balls with 20 fours and a six.

But his epic effort was still not quite enough for Yorkshire to clinch the win that they so desperately craved in order to close the gap on the top three teams, and time is starting to run out on their bid for promotion.

The one chink of light is that Hampshire beat Glamorgan and Yorkshire still have to play the Welshmen twice before the season is out.

Set 358 for victory in 83 overs, Yorkshire looked like getting there under McGrath's expert guidance and with a little more than ten overs remaining they required 76 with five wickets still in hand.

But then McGrath drove Mo Sheikh to Graeme Welch at short extra cover to depart to a standing ovation from supporters of both sides.

The win was still very much on, however, as Richard Dawson joined the admirable Ismail Dawood, who displayed a calm nerve and no little skill under great pressure, and with 34 wanted from five overs Yorkshire were clear favourites.

But Dawson departed to a mid-wicket catch off John Moss and the quick dismissal of Andy Gray meant that Yorkshire sensibly called off the chase with three overs remaining, Dawood meeting everything with a defensive bat, and the game ended in an honorable draw with Yorkshire on 341 for eight.

It had been a great fightback by Yorkshire but it was the inability of their bowlers to dispense with the tail in both innings which cost them dearly.

Once again, Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey had a very poor match, conceding 111 runs without taking a wicket and scoring only 19 and 12.

McGrath said later: "I have been feeling good at the crease recently and I knew that a big score was just around the corner.

"I must rate it as one of the best innings I have ever played and it is only a shame that we did not finish on a winning note.

"All credit to Derbyshire for producing an excellent pitch which lasted for four days and everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the game.

"It was great to record career-best batting and bowling figures in the same match but I don't think I will be setting new bowling records too regularly. I just bowled gun-barrel straight and it paid off."

Asked if his performance would help his England cause, McGrath said: "I am not thinking about that at the moment. I just want to go on doing well for Yorkshire."