County Championship, day four as it happened - Durham secure promotion, Notts earn vital win

Signing off

So it's as you were in the title race with just five points covering the top three of Somerset, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.

Today's headlines, though, belong to Durham who had to be patient before wrapping up a 93-run win over Middlesex which ensures promotion for the 2027 season as Division Two champions - the latter confirmed by Kent's dramatic late defeat at Derby.

There are just two rounds of matches left now to decide who lifts the Championship trophy, who is relegated, and who goes up with Durham.

As we approach Friday night, it's perhaps appropriate that we quote Katy Perry and say we'll be back on Tuesday at 10:00 to "do it all again".

Do join us then.

WICKET

Foreman lbw Bashir 38 (Derbys v Kent 251-9, target 434)

Wow - Shoaib Bashir has his first wicket of the match and it is the first wicket to spin of this innings!

Bashir pitches it on middle and leg and it turns a little, before hitting Bertie Foreman on the pad. The umpire hesitates for a moment before eventually raising the finger.

Most of the Derbyshire fielders are within touching distance of the batters at the moment.

Kent's final man Khaled Ahmed comes to the crease.

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Derbys v Kent 251-8 (Target: 434)

Kent see out another maiden over. Shoaib Bashir is denied by Bertie Foreman, but he does bowl one ripper which spins past the outside edge.

This has been a remarkable effort by Kent's middle order and tail today - at 38-5 they were nailed on to be beaten long before now but they have remained obdurate as a collective since.

Derbyshire are rapidly running out of time. There are six overs left for them and Ben Aitchison is back into the attack.

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Derbys v Kent 251-8 (Target: 434)

Martin Andersson is back into the attack for Derbyshire and sends down a probing set.

Bertie Foreman is as solid as he has been at any point in his 139 balls faced, though he does have to kick one away.

Foreman clips into mid-wicket for one and leaves Hasan Mahmud with one to survive, which he does with ease as it is a wide delivery down his legs.

There are seven overs left for Derbyshire to take two remaining Kent wickets.

250 up for Kent

Derbys v Kent 250-8 (Target: 434)

Another over, another frustrating one for Derbyshire. Kent's tail have proven resilient and stubborn here.

Ben Aitchison has had a full over to bowl at Hasan Mahmud and beats the bat with a beauty but is kept out otherwise.

With the final delivery, Mahmud bunts the ball into the leg side and takes a couple more for himself - but ensures Bertie Foreman has the strike.

Team of the week - our XI

It is usual for us, on the final day of matches, to give you our Team Of The Week.

Bit of a rush job this time, but here is our XI:

Josh Thomas, Ben McKinney; Joe Clarke, Martin Andersson, Luke Procter; Harry Duke (wk); Brydon Carse, Olly Stone, Ethan Bamber, Kuldeep Yadav, JT Langridge.

Perhaps a batter light - but there is still time for you to send us an alternative XI via the big yellow button on the left of the page.

Durham bounce back after 2025 nightmare

Durham promoted following win over Middlesex

What a difference a season makes.

Less than a year after a batting collapse against Yorkshire confirmed Durham's relegation to Division Two, the north-east county have dominated the second division.

Head coach Ryan Campbell has been frank about the tough conversations behind closed doors ahead of an impressive revival.

He told BBC Sport: "Twelve months is a long time in cricket, a long time in sport. We sat there after that game at Yorkshire obviously extremely disappointed to be relegated by one point.

"We worked through a few issues, had heated debates about a few things and the players took on board what we wanted to change and how we wanted to do things. So we're really grateful to be back here."

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