YORKSHIRE were relegated from the LV= County Championship Division One in near-miraculous circumstances as Liam Norwell’s fine bowling display saw Warwickshire survive by beating Hampshire.
Bournemouth-born Norwell’s career-best nine wickets for 62 runs sealed a five-run win over Hampshire on a thrilling final day of the season at Edgbaston, meaning the White Rose county drop into Division Two.
Hampshire, set a victory target of 139 to secure runners-up spot and condemn the 2021 champions to the drop, were bowled out for 133 as Norwell, returning at the end of an injury-ravaged season, bowled magnificently in several spells from the Pavilion End to keep Warwickshire above the relegation trapdoor in the final moments of the season.
They resumed on the final day of the campaign on 62 for two but appeared to relinquish their survival hopes as they collapsed to 177 all out.
Hampshire had 72 overs to reach their total but slumped to 91 for seven and, despite Nick Gubbins’ steadfast 46, they fell just short to suffer an agonising defeat.
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