County Championship: Middlesex relegated as Somerset and Hampshire survive

Middlesex have been relegated from the Specsavers County Championship Division One a year after winning the title.

The 2016 champions' 231-run defeat to Somerset, coupled with Hampshire's draw against Warwickshire, condemned them to the drop.

Middlesex finished on 146 points, one adrift of sixth-placed Somerset and a further point behind fifth-placed Hampshire and fourth-placed Yorkshire.

Somerset would have slipped into Division Two if they had failed to beat Middlesex but wrapped up a comprehensive win on day four at Taunton.

Jack Leach, overlooked for a place in England's Ashes squad, finished with 5-57 to skittle Middlesex for 113 and move past 50 first-class wickets for the second straight season.

Middlesex would have survived had Hampshire been beaten at Edgbaston but George Bailey's side, chasing 259 for victory, closed on 195-7 against already relegated Warwickshire.

Hampshire stumbled from 68-1 to 124-6 but Middlesex's hopes were dashed as Ian Holland (21no) and Gareth Berg (34) batted the away side to a draw.

Plus, Lancashire clinched a seven-wicket win over Surrey on the final morning at Old Trafford to seal second spot in Division One.

Lancashire, chasing 176 for victory, knocked off the final 44 runs required in less than six overs, with Liam Livingstone unbeaten on 69 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul finishing 43 not out.

Steven Croft's side finished 72 points adrift of champions Essex - who ended their campaign on Wednesday with a crushing win over Yorkshire - and 13 ahead of third-placed Surrey.

Lancashire's victory - their fifth of the season and fourth at Old Trafford - ensured they secured their highest Championship finish since winning Division One in 2011.