Worcestershire Yo-Yo Club return to Division One

Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira (right) was the star man, going from 90 to a superb 103 overnight. Photo: Getty Images/Allan MacKenzie

Worcestershire, the perennial County Championship yo-yo club, have achieved promotion back to Division One after a difficult season that saw the departure of several home-grown players.

Resuming score 280 from five at Headingley, Worcestershire needed just 20 more runs to add the second bonus point needed to gain promotion to the top flight with champions Durham.

Captain Brett D'Oliveira — grandson of Basil and son of Damian, another county stalwart — was bowled out for 103 as his side fell just one run short of promotion, but they went on to score 389 and were able to celebrate their work. great job. D'Oliveira admitted it was a «relief» to cross the line.

Alan Richardson, who took over as head coach last winter, praised his players' resilience during a difficult season that saw six players sidelined. . Non-contract players are leaving for new pastures.

The highlight was Nottinghamshire's raid at New Road, in which they signed England opener Josh Tong, another batsman Dillon Pennington, as well as England Lions batsman Jack Haynes. Pat Brown went to Derbyshire, Ben Cox to Leicestershire and Mitchell Stanley to Lancashire. Worcestershire is one of the smallest counties and doesn't have schools closed, floodlights or big budgets.

“Everything that's been going on has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times,” Richardson said. . “But the guys in the lineup held on brilliantly, didn’t get distracted and showed incredible resilience.

“It [the players leaving] had an impact, but the guys made sure that the distraction part of it all had minimal effect. It's full credit to the players who stayed, as well as those who won't, that they all agreed, showed great commitment and really made a difference for us.

“These things can confuse you, but I always look at things and think you can dwell on them and let them have a negative impact, or you can turn them around and see it as another challenge.”

The task now is not to sleep. Since promotion and relegation were introduced in 2000, this is Worcestershire's seventh promotion and relegation, accompanied by six relegations.

“If you look at the past, we've been up and down, so the challenge is to get up, get up and stay awake at some point,” said D'Oliveira.

Surrey title game postponed

In the First Division, unless Essex manage to score 400 points in their first innings in Northampton, Surrey will be crowned champions for the second year in a row. Essex had 125 points from four on day three, responding to relegated Northants' 369 points. All 10 second innings wickets in hand.

Bottom of the table Kent and Middlesex are struggling to maintain their top-flight status. Kent closed on 345 for four, ahead of Lancashire by 18 and taking the game to five points — and counting. Middlesex, who trailed by one point in the round, now have three points against Nottinghamshire.