Middlesex deserve Division Two title - Neil Dexter

Middlesex captain Neil Dexter (l) celebrates his side winning the Division Two title with Chris Rogers, who has been leading the team in his absence

Middlesex captain Neil Dexter said his side fully deserved to win the Division Two title after their five-wicket win over Leicestershire secured promotion.

Set 124 to win at Grace Road, Dexter saw his side wobbling on 90-5 before reaching their target to join Surrey in Division One next season.

Dexter told BBC London 94.9: "I think we deserve it.

"We don't make things easy at Middlesex but we have played some really good cricket throughout the year."

He added: "We've stuck together as a team and in situations where before we would have crumbled, we have really dug in and reaped the rewards of that.

"In all honesty I think we've played the better cricket this year and I think the way Surrey have come back is an exceptional effort from them."

Middlesex ended up winning eight of their 16 games, and were only beaten twice.

But Dexter, who missed the promotion run-in because of injury, is convinced his side will have to improve over the winter to ensure they are not also-rans when they return to Division One for the first time since 2006 next summer.

"I played quite a bit in Division One at Kent," said Dexter. "The wickets tend to be better and the ball is different.

"It's going to be a lot harder because you don't get through teams as quickly and as easily as sometimes you can in the second division because you come up against strong batting line-ups. There's also more pace on the ball from some of the bowlers.

"We're not far behind but we have a lot of hard work to do because I don't just want to compete, I want us to hit the ground running from the first game.

"We are a good enough team, our bowling unit has been exceptional this year and we've got to make sure we keep everyone fit. We've just got to believe in ourselves."