That's All Folkspublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 13 September 2023
Image source, Stu Forster - Getty ImagesWarwickshire's six-hitting matchwinner Michael Burgess
Well what a breathless day of cricket that was.
A nerve-shredding two-wicket victory for Warwickshire, chasing just 176 to win following contrived declarations from both Northants and the Bears.
After being rocked by a Ben Sanderson hat trick to slip to 24-5, Michael Burgess hit 78 not out, although he nearly holed out off a late skier right at the end, dropped by Jack White.
While Northants edge closer to the drop, it remains a battle as to who will join them in Division Two next season.
Kent and Notts drew at Canterbury, while Middlesex ground out a vital draw with Lancashire after looking in trouble when they slipped to 71-3, still more than 100 in arears at Old Trafford.
But the visitors secured a potentially precious five extra points for a draw to deny Dane Vilas in his last game as a Lancashire player.
Image source, REXDane Vilas hit a ton in his final innings for Lancashire
Notts' spirited effort was speaheaded by a six-hour 141 from Joe Clarke to leave Kent needing 168 in 32 overs. But Zak Crawley fell in the second over and Kent were left hanging on in the end.
The pick of the Division Two games was at Hove, where Leicestershire fell 15 runs short of a record victory chase as Sussex won to revive their own outside promotion hopes, while there were safety first draws at Bristol and Cardiff.
We'll be back on Tuesday for the penultimate round of Championship matches.
Can Essex pip Surrey for the title? Who will avoid the drop to Division Two? And can Worcestershire, who play already promored Durham, be edged out of the second promotion slot by either Leicestershire or Sussex?
