Lancashire’s relegation from Division One of the Vitality County Championship was confirmed on the day when rivals Yorkshire were also later promoted to the top flight.
After bowling out Worcestershire for 180 on day three at New Road, Lancashire were themselves then dismissed for 177 in 55.1 overs.
The Red Rose county’s fate was sealed as relegation rivals Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire picked up sufficient points from their Trent Bridge clash to both guarantee their own safety.
It was Lancashire’s fourth relegation from the top flight since last winning the title in 2011 – having previously gone down in 2012, 2014 and 2018 – and came two years after finishing runners-up.
No Lancashire batter passed 40 with Luke Wells and George Balderson both making 38.
Hampshire sealed the runner-up spot behind champions Surrey with a five-wicket victory over Somerset at Taunton.
Needing 121 to beat third-placed Somerset – who were dismissed for 180 in their second innings – Hampshire lost two wickets to the first two balls of their chase.
Toby Albert and Nick Gubbins fell to Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory, who was denied a hat-trick when Kasey Aldridge spilled a low chance at second slip offered by James Vince.
It was to prove a costly drop as Vince’s 68-ball 54 led Hampshire to a five-wicket victory, with Liam Dawson’s unbeaten 44 ensuring the visitors would finish second.
Warwickshire made 143-4 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 487 – South Africa Test wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne (148 not out) completing his first century in England.
Will Rhodes (37) passed 1,000 runs for the season for the first time in his career and Sam Hain stood unbeaten on 59 at the close as Warwickshire recovered from being 6-2.
Essex batters Dean Elgar, Tom Westley and Matt Critchley all scored centuries as Surrey conceded over 500 at Chelmsford.
Former South Africa captain Elgar led the way with 182, while Westley made 135 and Critchley 112.
Elgar and Westley put on a record 253 in 59 overs to eclipse the 95-year-old best of 206 for the second wicket against Surrey.
Surrey closed on 30-1 in reply to Essex’s massive 508-8 declared.
Alex Lees made his fourth first-class century of the season as Durham amassed 360 against Kent at Chester-le-Street.
Lees compiled 144 from 180 balls and had solid support from David Bedingham (66) and Emilio Gay (52). Kent were 96-3 at stumps.
Joy for Yorkshire
Yorkshire sealed promotion back to Division One after dominating day three against Northamptonshire.
Promotion rivals Middlesex were bowled out for 271 by Sussex – who finished the day 112-2 – which left Yorkshire needing 350 in their first innings to secure second place in the table.
Adam Lyth (147) and James Wharton (162 not out) hit centuries as Yorkshire got the three batting bonus points they required and reached the close on 371-2 – a lead of 224.
Glamorgan ended their Division Two campaign on a high with a crushing 192-run victory over Gloucestershire at Cardiff.
With heavy rain forecast for day four on Sunday, captains Sam Northeast and Graeme van Buuren agreed to make it a one-innings contest.
Glamorgan declared at 381-4 after Northeast had reach 1,000 runs for the season and Chris Cooke reached an unbeaten 101.
Gloucestershire collapsed to 189 all out with Andy Gorvin (three for 22) and Ben Kellaway (3-24) the pick of the home bowlers.
Leicestershire’s home game with Derbyshire finally got under way on day three, Sol Budinger top scoring with 87 in the Foxes’ 264-8.
