Image source, Getty Images

From the bloom of spring through the intense heat of summer and into the chills of autumn, County Championship cricket has been there.

And it was not until the final ball of the final match that everything was settled in domestic county cricket. From today alone we have seen Warwickshire survive and Yorkshire relegated in Division One.

While in Division Two, Nottinghamshire wrapped up the title and Middlesex joined them in promotion as runners-up.

Congratulations to Surrey for being County Champions - undoubtedly the best and most consistent team. And to Hampshire for their success in the T20 Blast and Kent in the One-Day Cup.

In the women's game, Southern Vipers were worthy winners of the Charlotte Edwards Cup but full credit to Northern Diamonds for dethroning them in last Sunday's Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy final.

The season has been hectic and unrelenting, but thanks for your company for all of it. We hope you've enjoyed it.

Winter well, and see you next season!

Here's the moment Liam Norwell secured Warwickshire's safety...

Image source, Getty Images

On the final day of the season, we have had the best bowling of the summer.

No surprise here but Liam Norwell's herculean 9-62 take those honours and they will probably never be forgotten by those of a Warwickshire persuasion.

Neil: If you only win one game all season you deserve to be relegated

Dan Spiller: What's the cricketing equivalent of Roy of the Rovers?

With that defeat, Hampshire miss out on second place and an extra £145,000 in prize money.

Lancashire take that after their innings victory over County Champions Surrey yesterday to end with possibly an unwanted hat-trick.

County Championship - 2nd

T20 Blast - 2nd

One-Day Cup - 2nd

Image source, Rex Features

Rip up the County Championship team of the season...

Criticised, marginalised, under threat.

However, County Championship cricket has delivered this afternoon in a big way. Six months of blood, sweat and tears, and relegation was settled by just FIVE runs.

Congratulations to Warwickshire. Commiserations to Yorkshire.

But competitive sport at its absolute best.

Carl Collen: Oh my giddy aunt! Liam Norwell got the title winning wicket last year and now he's single handedly kept us up!!! Build that man a statue!

Hampshire only needed one more big hit and Warwickshire would have been relegated.

It did not happen.

To defend 139, they needed someone to step forward. That man was Liam Norwell.

His nine wickets from 18.5 overs have kept the Bears up and sent Yorkshire down to Division Two.

Mo Abbas gets bat on it and thinks of a single. No run.

Here comes Mohammad Abbas. A verified rabbit.

He blocks his first ball.

The next one is hit into the covers, not too convincingly.

James Fuller on strike. The field spreads and he gets an easy one.

Brad Wheal survives the last two balls.

A fine maiden hundred from Rehan Ahmed has led Leicestershire’s final-day resistance and they have done enough to secure a draw with rain having the final say at Derby.

Wow, that was close!

Ollie Hannon-Dalby produces a ball that rises off the pitch and just beats the edge of Brad Wheal's edge.

An outside edge off the next ball and Wheal takes one.

Brad Wheal pinches a single off Norwell's last ball.

Eight to win. Two wickets.

If the match ends in a tie, Warwickshire will be relegated.

Michael Conway: Brilliant entertainment this, as a neutral. It shows that red ball county cricket is alive and kicking

Liam Norwell's 18th over.

That is a thumping drive from James Fuller. It beats both fielders and goes for four.

Fuller then nudges away an easy single - Brad Wheal to face the last two balls.

Target in single figures - nine runs.

New man Brad Wheal takes a single off Liam Norwell's final ball.

The number 10 now faces Ollie Hannon-Dalby.

It's a maiden over. Back to Norwell v Fuller.