Nottinghamshire Takes Cricket County Championship in Division One Final Round

Nottinghamshire clung on to the top spot to claim the County Championship title by virtue of most wins in the final round of Division One fixtures, while Kent were relegated despite winning at Headingley.

The finish was one of the closest in many years but sadly down to the wrong reasons, as rain played havoc with all the matches.

Nottinghamshire end on 214 points, winning seven, drawing four, and losing five after their draw with Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Only 28 overs were possible in the first three days, leaving a draw inevitable and all eyes on Chester-le-Street and Headingley to see how Somerset and Yorkshire were going on.

However, on the final day Nottinghamshire held their nerve to claim an invaluable bonus batting point at 400-9, thanks to Adam Voges 126 and Samit Patel's 96, while Simon Kerrigan claimed 5-80.

The away side claimed the three wickets they needed for the bonus point in the final session to win the title as Lancashire slumped to 11-3, and the match ended as a draw.

Somerset end on 214 points, winning six, drawing eight, and losing two after they could only draw away at Durham.

Durham made 286 in their first innings as Dale Benkenstein hit 72, while Ben Phillips took 4-60.

Somerset claimed maximum batting points, making 426 as James Hildreth scored 105.

The home side collapsed from 255-3 to 320 despite Michael Di Venuto's 129, as Peter Trego took 4-61 but the damage was already done.

Chasing 181 in 17 overs, Somerset reached 48-3 before a draw was agreed.

Yorkshire end on 203 points, winning six, drawing eight, and losing two after a four-wicket defeat to Kent at Headingley.

The home side claimed two batting bonus points in their score of 261, as Jonathan Bairstow hit 64, while Dewald Nel took 6-62.

Kent had Alex Blake (102 not out) and Martin van Jaarsveld (89) to thank for a score of 302, as Moin Ashraf took 5-32.

Yorkshire crumbled to 130 as James Tredwell (7-22) ripped through a line-up, needing to score quick runs in order to force victory to be County Champions.

Kent stumbled towards their target of 90 for the loss of six wickets and were indebted to van Jaarsveld (44) and Robert Key (27).

Lancashire finish fourth on 182 points, winning five, drawing eight, and losing three after drawing with newly-crowned champions Nottinghamshire.

Durham end on 173 points, winning five, drawing eight, and losing three after ensuring they relinquished the title of champions with a draw against Somerset.

Warwickshire finish on 166 points, winning six, drawing one, and losing nine after they escaped relegation on the final day by winning at Hampshire.

Hampshire made 218 first time around thanks to Liam Dawson's 74, while Darren Maddy took 4-37.

Ian Bell's 104 helped his county to 303, as Simon Jones claimed 4-60.

With nothing to play for Hampshire fell to 76-8 and despite Sean Ervine's 62, they were all out for 132, as Chris Woakes snared 5-34.

Warwickshire knocked off the 48 runs they needed for the loss of no wickets to ensure Division One safety.

Hampshire end on 157 points, winning three, drawing seven, and losing six after defeat to Warwickshire.

Kent go down to Division Two on 151 points, winning three, drawing six, and losing seven despite their victory against Yorkshire.

Essex finish bottom on 126 points, winning two, drawing eight, and losing six.