By Callum Dent
Man of the match Ryan Sidebottom again rolled back the years as Yorkshire hammered Nottinghamshire by an innings and 152 runs to clinch their first LV= County Championship title since 2001.
The evergreen left-arm seamer took four of the five wickets, leaking just six runs in the process, required for victory on the final day to help dismiss the second-placed hosts for 177.
Sidebottom again led the attack superbly, returning 6-30 in the second innings to complete stunning match figures of 9-65.
A fourth championship-title triumph, which was wrapped up with a game to spare, represents another chapter in the former England international’s glittering career.
The 36-year-old, who is in his fourth year back at Headingley following his departure from Notts, where he also won the competition twice, is the only member of Jason Gillespie’s youthful squad that had tasted success with the county before.
He was part of the side that won the championship 13 years ago as well as the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy the following season, the Tykes’ last piece of silverware.
Sidebottom started Yorkshire’s charge by bowling nightwatchman Gary Keedy in the third over of the morning and then having Chris Read, who failed to replicate his first-innings resistance, caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.
Luke Fletcher was next to depart, edging Sidebottom to second slip, before leg-spinner Adil Rashid trapped Jake Ball in front.
It was fitting that Sidebottom had the final say when James Taylor advanced down the track and thrashed straight to point to depart 25 runs short of a first four-day ton of the campaign.