Image source, Rex Features

Saturday was a painful one for Lancashire supporters as their fate was confirmed in the penultimate over of the day.

As Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire picked up the points they needed, the Red Rose failed to pick up the batting points they required, sealing a second relegation in six years.

To rub further salt in an already tender wound, their bitter rivals from across the Pennines, Yorkshire, also sealed their promotion back to Division One.

The wait for a Championship Roses clash will have to wait for at least one more season.

The good news for Lancashire? Their previous stay in Division Two lasted just the one season.

Image source, Rex Features

What a second half of the season it’s been for Yorkshire, who have stormed back to Division One cricket after two years away.

The White Rose county were winless after seven games, lagging behind Sussex and Middlesex by some distance, but their surge gathered pace as they put together a remarkable run of form with five wins out of their next six.

Three of those were innings victories, with Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire all ruthlessly crushed and the sole blip in that winning streak a run-dominated draw with the Kookaburra ball against Middlesex.

Yorkshire still have an outside chance of pipping Sussex to the Division Two title should the leaders falter at Hove today, but a far stronger chance of rounding off their campaign with another win at home to Northamptonshire.

Already 224 in front with James Wharton resuming on 162 not out, the Tykes will be looking to extend that lead further and give themselves enough time to bowl their visitors out for a second time.

Image source, Rex Features

Very simple. A draw or a batting point will do it.

The gap between Sussex and second-placed Yorkshire, including bonus points in the current round is now 17 points.

At best, Yorkshire can finish on 225 points.

To achieve that they'd need to stretch their first innings score of 371-2 in 83.2 overs to date up to 450 in 110 overs for five batting points.

Then they would need to bowl Northants out today, ideally for an innings victory given time constraints. A win is worth 16 points.

Sussex are already on 224, having picked up the three maximum available bowling points at Hove against Middlesex.

They have 77 overs left to reach 250 runs for a batting bonus point.

If Yorkshire and Sussex end the day level on 225 points, Sussex will be confirmed as the 2024 Division Two champions - as they have won eight games and Yorkshire at best will end the season on six wins.

It definitely feels like the last day of the season out there.

Div One

• Durham 360 v Kent 96-3
• Notts 487 v Warwickshire 143-4
• Worcestershire 180 & 0-0 v Lancashire 177
• Essex 508-8 dec v Surrey 30-1

Div Two

• Leicestershire 264-8 v Derbyshire
• Sussex 112-2 v Middlesex 271
• Yorkshire 371-2 v Northants 147

Image source, Rex Features

Well here we are - 177 days after the County Championship began its 2024 campaign we have reached the finale.

It's the end of term for demob happy players, but the end of another special six months for red-ball aficionados.

Seven matches of the final round have made it to the final day.

All of the ups and downs have been decided, with just the destination of the Division Two title to be confirmed.

But let's soak up what's left of the action.