County Championship Division One: Nottinghamshire relegated as top two win
Monday 26 December 2016 13:46, UK
The race for the Specsavers County Championship Division One title looks set to go right down to the wire after both Middlesex and Yorkshire wrapped up final-day victories.
The sides are separated by just one point with two games remaining and will go head-to-head in a potential title-decider at Lord's in the final game of the season.
However, Nottinghamshire's nine-year stay in the top flight is over as defeat at the hands of Middlesex confirmed their relegation to Division Two.
Yorkshire, looking for a third championship win on the bounce, took the seven wickets they needed to see off Durham at Headingley, taking the final wicket early in the afternoon session.
The visitors started the day on 39-3 but any hopes they had of batting out the day and escaping with a much-needed draw in their fight for survival were quickly extinguished by Ryan Sidebottom's three-wicket burst.
Having dismissed night-watchman Graham Onions (6), the left-armer then removed Scott Borthwick (9) and Paul Collingwood (9) to leave Durham 63-6.
Michael Richardson (33) and Ryan Pringle (57no) ensured Jason Gillespie's side had to work for their victory but after Sidebottom (4-34) had the former caught, Jack Brooks (3-55) bowled Chris Rushworth to seal a 228-run win for Yorkshire.
Middlesex responded with a win of their own, by five wickets, to stay top of the pile and leave Notts to contemplate a season in the second tier next summer.
The leaders resumed on 48-3, needing another 187 for victory, and there will have been some frayed nerves in the dressing room when Jake Ball (4-54) had Stevie Eskinazi (30) caught behind before lunch.
Nick Compton battled on but having reached his half-century, the former England batsman was run out for 63 with Middlesex still 89 shy of their target.
John Simpson (58no) and James Franklin (54no) kept their cool though and got their side over the line for no further loss.
Elsewhere, the clash between Surrey and Hampshire at the Oval ended in a draw after rain halted proceedings early in the evening session.
Play resumed with the hosts on 23-0 in their second innings, still some 230 runs behind Hampshire's first innings total, knowing that they simply needed to bat out the day to secure a draw.
Rory Burns (18) and Dominic Sibley (44) shared an opening stand of 49 before Liam Dawson (1-95) removed the former and Surrey were 91-2 when Sibley was caught behind off Brad Wheal (1-45).
However, a century stand between Kumar Sangakarra (84no) and Arun Harinath (57) eased any worries of a collapse. Sean Ervine (1-11) eventually broke the partnership but Sangakarra and Steven Davies (29no) moved Surrey on to 248-3 before the rain came down.
