Leicestershire end long wait for a return to County Championship Division One

Leicestershire will be back in Division One of the County Championship for the first time in more than two decades after they drew their match against Gloucestershire.

The Foxes were sitting on 93 for one in their chase of 316 before a third rain interruption of the afternoon at Grace Road forced the umpires to abandon the match.

After Derbyshire’s fixture against Middlesex at Lord’s was also drawn, Leicestershire can now not finish outside the top two.

It means they will return to the top flight next year, ending a wait which stretches back to 2003 following their relegation from Division One.

Leicestershire have finished rooted to the foot of Division Two on eight occasions since but their six victories this year propels them back to the top tier.

In Division One, Nottinghamshire survived a scare to secure a three-wicket win at Worcestershire and keep their title dreams alive.

The visitors were set a target of 136 to win – and started the final day on 40 for one – but they were left on 83 for six after Freddie McCann (28) and Joe Clarke (none) were both dismissed early on.

Ben Allison, who finished with second innings figures of three for 50, then struck twice in 10 balls removing Jack Haynes (10) and Kyle Verreynne (three) before Slater (36) edged behind off Tom Taylor.

However, after the lunch break, Liam Patterson-White (23) and Lyndon James (17 not out) steadied the Notts ship before Josh Tongue chipped in with 14 runs off 18 deliveries to complete the win, which leaves Worcestershire set to finish rooted to the foot of the table.

Nottinghamshire are a point behind table-topping Surrey, who they face at the Oval next week, after they also drew their match against Warwickshire.

Despite a groin injury forcing him to bat with a runner, Dom Sibley celebrated an unbeaten century (103) as Surrey declared their second innings on 391 for eight at the Kia Oval.

It left Warwickshire with a run chase of 390 to win off 76 overs and they reached 105 for one.

Rob Yates finished 34 not out for the visitors before the match was abandoned and resulted in a draw due to heavy afternoon rain.

Ben Raine and Matthew Potts delivered an unbroken stand of 77 to salvage a draw for Durham against Essex in Chelmsford, while Yorkshire’s rain-scuppered match against Somerset at Taunton also ended in a draw.

Sussex and Hampshire were also forced to settle for a draw. Day three was abandoned without a ball being bowled and the start of the concluding day at Hove was pushed back to 2pm with only 21 overs possible in the end. Sussex needed 278 to secure an unlikely win and reached 84 for three before the game ended.

Back in Division Two, and the weather also ruined Lancashire’s attempt to chase down Kent’s total of 303 to win at The Spitfire Ground. The visitors reached 138 for three in the draw – with Marcus Harris on 50 not out – when rain forced the players off.

Glamorgan also drew against Northamptonshire to move further ahead of third-placed Derbyshire, prior to their showdown next week and boost their promotion chances.