It’s ecstasy and agony across the Pennines as Yorkshire confirm their promotion to the top flight while Lancashire’s relegation from Division One is sealed against Worcestershire

There were contrasting emotions on either side of the Pennines yesterday as Lancashire’s relegation was coupled with Yorkshire taking their place in the top flight of the County Championship.

Lancashire’s fate was sealed on the penultimate day of their fixture against Worcestershire at New Road when they failed to muster a single batting point, crumbling for 177 in response to the hosts’ first-innings effort of 180.

Not even victory today will now be enough to avert a fourth drop from Division One in 13 years, as fellow strugglers Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire picked up sufficient points from their meeting at Trent Bridge to guarantee their own safety.

It has been a disastrous campaign for the Red Rose under new head coach Dale Benkenstein, incorporating four innings defeats – a first in the club’s history.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire confirmed their promotion after taking their total of bonus points to six against Northamptonshire on day three. They had gone into the home match requiring 10 points, but that tally was reduced by four when Middlesex, the outsiders in the battle for a top-two finish, were dismissed for a run-a-ball 271 by already-promoted Sussex at Hove.

Meanwhile Yorkshire celebrated securing their return to the top flight under outgoing head coach Ottis Gibson

It meant that Yorkshire, pushing hard for a sixth win in seven unbeaten matches under their outgoing head coach Ottis Gibson, confirmed they were going up after dismissing Northants and then reaching 350, and three batting points, shortly before bad light signalled the close at Headingley.

They head into the final morning of the season on 371 for two, courtesy of hundreds from Adam Lyth and James Wharton, and appear on course to secure a full house of points after after Ben Coad’s four for 51, surging him beyond 300 first-class wickets, contributed to the blitzing of the visitors for 147.

However, Yorkshire’s achievement represents a bittersweet ending to Gibson’s three years at Headingley – the former West Indies and South Africa coach was told his contract was being terminated in July and is being replaced at the helm by Essex’s Anthony McGrath.

Middlesex opener Sam Robson also celebrated three figures, but his side needed to bat for considerably longer than the 44.3 overs they managed on the south coast to keep their hopes alive.

Back in Division One, Hampshire secured the runner’s up place with a five-wicket win over Somerset at Taunton.