LIAM Norwell powered Warwickshire to an incredible escape from relegation in the LV=Insurance County Championship as his career-best nine for 62 sealed a five-run win over Hampshire on a thrilling final day of the season.

Set a target of 139 to secure runners-up spot (and condemn the 2021 champions to the drop), Hampshire were blown away for 133 as Norwell, returning at the end of an injury-ravaged season, bowled magnificently in several spells from the Pavilion End.

His excellence lifted Warwickshire above the relegation trapdoor in the final moments of the season and dumped Yorkshire into Division Two instead.

After resuming in the morning on 62 for two, the Bears appeared to have relinquished their survival hopes when they collapsed to 177 all out. Dom Sibley, in his last game for the Bears before rejoining Surrey, made 77 but James Fuller (four for 34) and Brad Wheal (three for 68) exploited the desperate quest for quick runs.

Hampshire needed 139 in 72 overs but slumped to 91 for seven and, despite Nick Gubbins's steadfast 46, they fell just short to suffer an agonising defeat and slip to third place in the table.

For the victors, joy. For the defeated, angst. And for the countless spectators monitoring from around the world, brilliant entertainment which again underlined the ability of both red ball cricket and county cricket to deliver a memorable entertainment.

The admirable Norwell had the last say. He trapped Gubbins lbw, ripped out Fuller's middle stump and, to enormous cheers from the crowd, won an lbw decision against Mohammed Abbas to complete a true 'I was there' day for Warwickshire's supporters. Yorkshire's fans are unlikely to forget it in a hurry either.