KENT'S survival hopes in Southgate suffered a huge blow with the dismissal of Michael Bevan after an hour's play.

The Aussie left-hander had reached 66 inside 224 minutes for his part in a third wicket stand worth 162 in 60 overs when Middlesex struck.

Spinner Paul Weekes made the breakthrough, finding an inside edge for a bat-bad catch that Ben Hutton gleefully accepted one-handed a short leg.

David Fulton (94) and Matt Walker (9) then teamed up to take Kent on to 198 for three after 73 overs.