Ryan Sidebottom had reduced Middlesex to 0-3 after a destructive first over © Getty Images
Ryan Sidebottom had reduced Middlesex to 0-3 after a destructive first over © Getty Images

London: Former England bowler Ryan Sidebottom produced a devastating spell of bowling as Yorkshire retained the County Championship Division One title by skittling Middlesex for 106 at Lord’s on Wednesday. Middlesex were 0-3 after Sidebottom bowled the first over of the match and he eventually took five for 18, including his 700th first-class wicket, while Tim Bresnan chipped in with four for 30. Yorkshire were assured of the title after Nottinghamshire, their nearest rivals, were bowled out for 204 in their home game with Durham at Trent Bridge. Middlesex’s collapse left Notts as the only side capable of taking Yorkshire’s crown, but they needed five batting bonus points to maintain a mathematical hope of the title and only managed one. Ryan Sidebottom: A left-arm pacer who epitomised willpower to succeed at the top echelons

Despite securing the title, Yorkshire will have to wait for their match to finish before they are presented with the trophy. Yorkshire, coached by former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie, still have two matches to play after the Lord’s fixture and could set a new record points tally for the English top flight. Sidebottom continues his splendid form with the ball for Yorkshire, having recorded 39 wickets from nine appearances in the ongoing season so far. Yorkshire are yet to lose in their 14 matches in the ongoing series so far, having won nine and drawn four. The team has experienced tremendous success under coach Gillespie, remaining unbeaten since April 2014 and losing a mere three out of the 61 games under his coaching. Ryan Sidebottom credits the whole Yorkshire team

Brief scores:

Middlesex 106 (Sam Robson 26, John Simpson 28; Ryan Sidebottom 5 for 18, Tim Bresnan 4 for 30) trail Yorkshire 238 for 9 (Andrew Gale 98; Neil Dexter 3 for 24) by 132 runs.