Yorkshire relegated as Warwickshire stage final-day Great Escape at Edgbaston

Liam Norwell was the hero as the Warwickshire bowler took an incredible 9-62 to dismiss Hampshire for 133, giving his side a five-run victory and preserving their top-tier status

Liam Norwell took an incredible 9-62 to keep Warwickshire up (

Image: Getty Images)

Yorkshire have been dramatically relegated from division one of the County Championship after a staggering final day of the season.

Needing to dismiss Hampshire for 137 or less to preserve their top-tier status, Warwickshire bowled out their opponents for 133 at Edgbaston with Liam Norwell taking an incredible 9-62.

It means Yorkshire drop into division two following their defeat by basement boys Gloucestershire in their final match of the season at Headingley.

The White Rose county lost their final three fixtures to fall through the trapdoor meaning arguably the biggest club in the English domestic game will be playing second-tier cricket next term.

Warwickshire began day four knowing they needed quick runs in order to build both a sufficient lead and give themselves enough time to bowl out Hampshire to get the win they needed to stay up.

Dom Sibley scored 77 on his final appearance for the Bears to set up the bowling effort, but Hampshire were still big favourites to knock off the 138 runs they needed to win the match, secure second spot in division one and save Yorkshire from the drop.

But Norwell had other ideas, bowling an incredible 18.5 overs and finishing with figures of 9-62 – his best in first-class cricket – to almost single-handedly keep the Edgbaston outfit in division one.

Norwell bowled one of the all-time great county spells to keep Warwickshire up (

Image:

Getty Images)

It compounds a tumultuous period for Yorkshire both on and off the pitch, following the fallout to Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of systemic racism at Headingley.

The saga saw a clearout of senior management with Darren Gough taking over as director of cricket and Ottis Gibson becoming the club’s new head coach.

But in the first year of their stewardship, the White Rose have now dropped out of the first division and – unthinkably – will be playing division two cricket next season.

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