Coverage from the last day of the 2014 LV= County Championship, as Middlesex retained their Division One status at Lancashire's expense at Emirates Old Trafford and champions Yorkshire fell just short of another amazing win.
By Rob Barnett, Callum Dent & Dominic Farrell
6.30pm - So that is that, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks so much for following all the ebbs and flows, twists and turns of a great LV= County Championship season. We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage.
Here’s how things finished at the close today:
Middlesex drew with Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford as an unbroken 64-run stand by James Harris and Tim Murtagh for the ninth wicket sealed Division One survival at their hosts’ expense. Lancashire captain Glen Chapple collected the man-of-the-match award in what might be the final appearance of a truly great county career.
Somerset hung on for a draw as champions Yorkshire showed their considerable muscle at Headingley this evening. Joe Root struck a fluent 97 before the visitors, chasing 182, limped to 151 for nine.
Northamptonshire bowed out of Division One with a draw against third-place Sussex at Wantage Road. Visiting opener Luke Wells completed a superb campaign with 162 before Muhammad Azhar Ullah starred for the home side with 7-76.
Gloucestershire beat Kent by 244 runs at the Spitfire Ground to secure a sixth-place finish and give centurion Alex Gidman, who is joining Worcestershire, a deserved send-off.
And stumps for the 2014 season
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 26, 2014
6.17pm - RESULT! Yorkshire (253 & 365) draw with Somerset (437 & 151/9) at Headingley. Ultimately Yorkshire are unable to force it over the line, but this evening has offered another clinical demonstration of why they have been the best team in the country this season. There’s a party to be had at Leeds this evening!
6.10pm - Two overs to go at Headingley and last pair Jamie Overton and Alfonso Thomas are holding firm. For the west-country optimists out there, they need 36 to win.
5 overs to go with 1 wicket left....
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 26, 2014
5.53pm - Make that one wicket! Rashid is the catcher on this occasion as Tom Abell goes for 34 to Brooks.
5.49pm - Joe Leach comes down the pitch to Rashid but he’s beaten and Jonny Bairstow whips the bails off. Yorkshire are two wickets away.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this season. It's been a tough year but we'll be fighting back next year. pic.twitter.com/WSD9yQuzZH
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 26, 2014
5.28pm - Where’s your money, indeed - Sidebottom has Tim Groenewald caught behind and Somerset are 110 for seven with 12 overs left.
5.23pm - There’ll be a party at Headingley when stumps are drawn, regardless. But where’s your money? Have Somerset weathered the storm?
Yorks need four wickets still. Somerset 101-6 in the 30th over. 14.4 overs left. 182 the target.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
4.57pm - Two wickets in an over for Yorkshire! James Hildreth is run out and Brooks bowls Peter Trego first ball. The upshot is Somerset are 85 for six and the county champions could be on their way to the most remarkable win of the lot in an astonishing season.
4.52pm - And here is Middlesex captain Chris Rogers.
He said: “After day two I thought we were nowhere - to save this game was going to be a miracle. We’ve played amazingly well since then and to stay in the First Division is very satisfying
“It wouldn’t be the first pitch I’ve read wrongly. All of us who were there in that decision thought we should definitely have a bat but that’s not how it played.
“We had to fight hard. All credit to our guys, particularly our lower order - that kind of fight is amazing, you’re just so proud.
“I think this game probably epitomises where we’re at. Sometimes we play a couple of bad days and a couple of good days and we just can’t be consistent. At times we have a bit of a soft underbelly. That’s something we need to address, but we definitely have the talent.”
4.48pm- Here’s some reaction from the post-match presentation at Emirates Old Trafford.
Lancashire captain and man-of-the-match Glen Chapple: “It’s been a tough game. We needed to do a lot, take a lot of points from this game to stay in Division One. Every stage seemed to go our way and we were right in it until about 40 minutes ago.
“This pitch seemed to get easier to bat on. When they behave like that you’ve got to take your chances and we’d have like to have taken ours."
On his playing/coaching future, Chapple added: “Genuinely, I don’t know. I still enjoy playing, I still feel decent. I’ve not had as good a season as I would have liked but I don’t think that’s to do with age.
“This year for me has been a very good learning curve and, whatever happens, I’ll be better for it.”
Kieswetter gone! Yorkshire on the charge. Patterson traps him lbw for 3. 83-4.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
4.35pm - RESULT! Sussex (368 & 343) draw with Northamptonshire (294 & 85/1) at Wantage Road. Northants sign off on their winless championship season with a draw. Wells starred with the bat in both innings, while Muhammad Azhar Ullah and Steve Magoffin returned fine hauls amid some serious toil for the bowlers.
Whilst we all breathe a sigh of relief, our commiserations go to @LancsCCC on relegation. An incredible game guys & you'll bounce right back
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 26, 2014
4.30pm - As overdue breath is drawn at Emirates Old Trafford, there are a couple of wickets to tell you about from elsewhere.
Kettleborough is bowled by Luke Wells for 33, while Jack Brooks has found a way through to Nick Compton’s stumps.
The latter dismissal leaves Somerset 76 for three, needing 106 more for victory.
Congrats to @Middlesex_CCC on preserving their @LV_Cricket Division 1 status. Typical of this season, it went down to the final session
— LV_Cricket (@LV_Cricket) September 26, 2014
4.22pm - RESULT! Middlesex (214 & 341/8) draw with Lancashire (302/8d) at Emirates Old Trafford. LANCASHIRE ARE RELEGATED TO DIVISION TWO. An unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 64 between the excellent James Harris and Tim Murtagh concludes an enthralling four days, as Middlesex leave Manchester with their Division One status intact. It was a valiant effort from Lancashire, but a dire lack of first-innings runs throughout the season meant the damage was ultimately done before this week for Glen Chapple’s men.
4.14pm - Adil Rashid takes a 45th wicket of a fine championship season to deny Marcus Trescothick a half-century. The Somerset skipper goes for 44 and his team are 62 for two.
50 partnership in 23 overs by Murtagh & Harris looks to have done it for Middlesex who are 327-8 leading by 239 with min.24 overs left
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 26, 2014
4.03pm - There’s a fifty partnership for Northants opening duo Stephen Peters and James Kettleborough, who have 31 and 20 respectively.
3.57pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 318/8): There is a resigned feeling falling over Emirates Old Trafford. Middlesex's tail are ably handling the last kicks of Lancashire's season and it appears a second relegation in three years is now imminent.
3.50pm - Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan enters the Lancashire attack in what feels like the last throw of the dice. What price some of those brilliant yorkers that lit up the NatWest T20 Blast earlier this season?
3.36pm - Lancashire have battled superbly over the past four days but the clock is really ticking on their Division One status now. Middlesex lead by 222 with two wickets still remaining and any chase will now be undertaken in less than 30 overs.
3.17pm - Johann Myburgh goes early in Somerset’s chase, caught at backward point by Richard Pyrah off Ryan Sidebottom.
Northamptonshire head in for tea at 35 without loss before their last session of Division One cricket for at least 18 months.
3pm - Tea is taken at Emirates Old Trafford, where Middlesex are leading Lancashire by 204 on 292 for eight. There are 37 overs left in the day.
Northants 21 without loss from four overs at Wantage Road #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 26, 2014
2.46pm - Trego accounts for Ryan Sidebottom for a duck to dismiss Yorkshire for 365 and finish with excellent figures of 7-84. Somerset require 182 to win after tea.
2.44pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 285/8): This match has echoes of Lancashire's title-winning match at Taunton on the final day of the season three years ago. On that day Lancashire needed 211 to win the title and got it in 29.1 overs. Six of the players from that XI are in this team.
Yorkshire are nine down when Richard Pyrah is stumped by Kieswetter off Leach.
The Hampshire staff welcoming the players and the #LVCC Division Two trophy back to the Ageas Bowl! #Champions pic.twitter.com/RfwFXHVVPS
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 26, 2014
WICKET! @Azhar_ullah takes the wicket of Wells (162) and finishes with excellent figures of 7/76. pic.twitter.com/9wmfLd6R9D
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 26, 2014
2.29pm - Trego and Somerset are on the charge now as Steven Patterson is bowled. That is 10 wickets in the match for Trego.
2.26pm - Trego claims a fifth wicket at Headingley. Jack Leaning gloves the seamer to James Hildreth at first slip to depart for 28. Yorkshire are leading by 165 with nearly 49 overs left.
Azhar Ullah ends Wells' innings on 162 to dismiss Sussex for 343 and complete figures of 7-76. Northants require a mammoth 418 to win.
England's @ravibopara has signed a one-year contract extension at @EssexCricket http://t.co/ncmVXnZvUr pic.twitter.com/i0I4qGNso6
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) September 26, 2014
2.19pm - Glen Chapple traps Roland-Jones lbw to leave Middlesex eight down and 189 runs ahead.
Northants seamer Olly Stone has a first scalp, having Lewis Hatchett caught behind.
2.10pm - Luke Wells has 150 to his name at Wantage Road. Sussex lead by 406.
Yorks are 331-6 in the 86th over - a lead of 147. Leaning 17, Pyrah 0. Best part of 54 overs left.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
1.59pm - Azhar Ullah then removes Steve Magoffin first ball.
Adil Rashid edges Peter Trego behind to Craig Kieswetter to depart for 11. Yorkshire are 146 in front.
1.55pm - Azhar Ullah has five! The seamer traps Ashar Zaidi lbw for just nine, leaving Sussex 316 for seven.
1.50pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 258/7): This game continues to ebb and flow. Lancashire's heads appeared to slump when Jos Buttler put down their seventh dropped catch of the game only for John Simpson to then pick out Luke Procter in the next over from Simon Kerrigan. This looks destined for a tight finish.
1.36pm - Root misses out on a century, bowled by Jack Leach for 97. Is the game back on in Leeds?
Root on 96 - 311-4
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
1.30pm - Muhammad Azhar Ullah has a fourth wicket at Wantage Road as Ben Brown departs for 26. Sussex, leading by 366, are 292 for six. Is a declaration imminent?
1.24pm - England international Joe Root is doing his best to make the game safe for Yorkshire. The skipper has 89 of the White Rose's 303 for four, a lead of 119 over Somerset at Headingley.
1.16pm - The attacking Toby Roland-Jones takes Middlesex's lead past 150. Lancashire need another breakthrough fast.
WICKET! Dexter plays on to Junaid. Middlesex 222-6, Dexter 17 (off 103 balls) has gone. Simpson 2 Middlesex lead by 134 runs #LanvMid
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 26, 2014
12.49pm - RESULT! Gloucestershire (179 & 432) beat Kent (164 & 203) by 244 runs at the Spitfire Ground . Smith gets a fourth as James Tredwell is last to go. Victory moves Gloucestershire up a place to sixth in Division Two, one behind their hosts and is a fitting send-off for centurion Alex Gidman.
12.46pm - Smith bags a third scalp, cleaning up David Griffiths. Gloucestershire want one more wicket for victory.
Different picture now as play is underway again... pic.twitter.com/gRleumyL8h
— Kevin Patrick Hand (@KevinHandBBC) September 26, 2014
12.41pm - Play resumes in Manchester with 14 overs lost due to the pre-lunch delay.
12.38pm - The interval arrives at Headingley and Wantage Road. Here's the scores:
Division One champions Yorkshire are 290 for four in their second innings, 106 ahead of Somerset , with Root unbeaten on 86.
Wells has 123 of Sussex's second-innings 282 for five , 356 in front of relegated Northamptonshire .
12.31pm - Norwell has two wickets in two overs, now bowling Mitchell Claydon. Gloucestershire need two more to win so lunch is being delayed at the Spitfire Ground .
Bairstow gone! He's top-edged behind off Overton for an entreating 49. It's 288-4, lead of 104.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
12.22pm - Northeast, perhaps Kent's last hope of survival, is caught behind off Liam Norwell for 62. Northeast's side are 179 for seven.
12.16pm - Smith strikes again, this time snaring Calum Haggett to put Kent six down.
Root and Bairstow are ticking along nicely, the former hitting Joe Leach for a straight six and the latter scoring at better than a run a ball.
12.10pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 213/5): The early lunch here at Emirates Old Trafford is, seemingly, the cue for the rain to go away. Blue sky is rolling in from the west and the forecast suggests it should stay that way for the rest of the day.
12.03pm - Lunch is taken at Emirates Old Trafford. The Manchester rain looks like it will cost Lancashire, who trail Middlesex by 125 runs and will surely need to dismiss their opponents to get a crack at a victory target?
. @gwilson14 & Gareth Batty are among seven players to sign new long-term deals @surreycricket : http://t.co/fofY4ddKC1 pic.twitter.com/70yqO1pOHE
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) September 26, 2014
That's a 68-ball fifty for Root. 235-3.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
11.50am - Tom Smith ousts Stevens for 47 to limit the stand to 98. Kent are 155 for five as they try to bat for a draw.
11.40am - Rob Keogh strikes for Northants, having Michael Yardy stumped for 21 to leave him on 9,999 first-class runs. Sussex lead by 320 with five wickets left. Surely they will declare soon?
Northeast, leading Kent in the absence of Rob Key, raises a fifty. He and Stevens are nearing a hundred partnership.
Another band of rain has just hit Old Trafford and it could an early lunch the way things are looking.
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 26, 2014
100 for Luke Wells - Sussex 243/4, currently lead by 317 runs.
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 26, 2014
11.30am - Overnight pair Sam Northeast and Darren Stevens are digging in as Kent try to save the game against Gloucestershire.
11.22am - Yorkshire, in their second innings, are now ahead of Somerset. Fourth-wicket partners Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are seeking to make the game safe.
There is no additional time available on the final day, so overs will be deducted due to this stoppage
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 26, 2014
11.15am - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 213/5): That Morgan wicket was Junaid's fifth delivery with the new ball. The Pakistan seamer has bowled well without much luck after flying over for this match. He produced a snorter to get rid of Dawid Malan last night, but that delivery just now needed no favours from the pitch. It was a peach.
Ballance gone! Lbw to Trego for 69. It's 178-3. Yorks are six behind. Trego's seventh wicket in the match.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
11.06am - Lancashire strike and it's the big wicket of Eoin Morgan, who is trapped in front for 45 by a Junaid Khan beauty. Middlesex lead by 125 with five wickets left. It's getting murky at Emirates Old Trafford and there's light rain in the air, which soon forces the players off .
11am - Play has started at Headingley while Lancashire have taken the second new ball as soon as it became available.
Sussex's Luke Wells, on 91 overnight, is playing himself in as he targets three figures.
WICKET! @Azhar_ullah makes an early breakthrough with the wicket of Luke Wright (24). @SussexCCC are 210/4 and lead by 284.
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 26, 2014
10.30am - Confirmation comes that there will be a delayed start at Headingley due to bad light. Stay here for all the other action.
10.25am - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (302/8d) v Middlesex (214 & 202/4): The relegation fight has come down to the final day of the season. Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple admitted last night he thought his side's hopes of staying up had gone when they lost at Hove a fortnight ago . They are treating this like a second chance. Middlesex, on the other hand, will probably need to bat out at least two sessions if they are to be safe.
Bad light looks set to hold us up this morning. Rain is also not a millions miles away.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 26, 2014
10.20am - Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the final day of the 2014 LV= County Championship season. Yesterday Hampshire took the remaining promotion place and the Division Two title . The last big issue to be decided is the second relegation spot. Lancashire must beat Middlesex to avoid going down and condemn their opponents to the drop. Here's how the remaining games stand:
Middlesex are 202 for four in their second innings, leading Lancashire by 114. Red Rose skipper Glen Chapple yesterday produced memorable heroics with the bat to keep their survival hopes alive at Emirates Old Trafford.
Yorkshire are 148 for two, trailing Somerset by 36 runs in their second innings at Headingley. Gary Ballance has 50 not out for the champions.
Sussex are leading by 283 on 209 for three against relegated Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Visiting opener Luke Wells has continued his purple patch to move to 91 not out.
Kent are 95 for four and need an unlikely 353 more to beat Gloucestershire , for whom Alex Gidman scored a farewell 140 at the Spitfire Ground.
Final pre-match warm up of 2014... pic.twitter.com/sIkxn6ZAux
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 26, 2014