YORKSHIRE’S Division One future in the Specsavers County Championship is just about secure following a nerve-shredding win over Warwickshire at Headingley yesterday.

Chasing a target of 175 against a Bears side including dangerous New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel, Yorkshire slipped from 56-3 overnight to 96-7, still needing 79.

Patel had taken his first five-wicket haul of 2017, and relegation was looking an increasingly likely prospect.

Step forward heroic eighth-wicket duo Steve Patterson and Matthew Fisher, who put on 78 in 24 overs either side of lunch.

Patterson finished with a season’s best 44 not out in this two-wicket win, while Fisher chipped in with 15.

When the latter was Patel’s sixth wicket, caught at leg slip, Yorkshire needed just one run to win to claim 21 points for their fourth victory of the campaign. Patterson sorted that out with a cut for four off seamer Chris Wright.

It means they are now 18 points clear of second-bottom Somerset ahead of Monday’s final round trip to face Essex at Chelmsford.

Somerset were beaten by Surrey at the Oval, leaving them staring at a place in Division Two.

Yorkshire are now fourth in the table on 145 points, with Middlesex and Hampshire also below them. If they gain a maximum of six points at Chelmsford, they are safe.

“It felt like Middlesex at Lord’s all over again last year,” said coach Andrew Gale, referring to the title-deciding contest last September.

“The heart was racing, but luckily we were on the right side of the result.

“It’s a massive win. We’re not home and dry yet, but as daft as it sounds, I think you probably still finish second. It’s that bizarre.

“We just have to go down to Chelmsford and continue some of the good work.

“I feel like we have played some really good cricket over the last three weeks. Had we played like that for the majority of the year, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Patterson and Fisher both calmly capped off memorable personal games.

Fisher, playing for the first time in the Championship this summer, claimed five wickets in the first innings and hit 37 to add to this 15.

Patterson was superb on day three with four second-innings wickets having also endured a frustrating campaign.

“Fish had a great game,” said Gale. “He’s had to wait a long time for his chance. He’s been chomping at the bit, reminding me that he’s fit and ready to go.

“We just felt over the last few weeks he’s hit his straps in the seconds, and it was the right time for him to play.

“His batting, we knew he had the ability. But to do it in a pressurised situation like that is outstanding.

“Patto has always showed a lot of guts. He’s been there throughout the last five or six years whenever we’ve needed him. He stood up and performed again. I’m really pleased for him.”

Patel had Gary Ballance (21) lbw, Jack Leaning caught at leg slip and Tim Bresnan caught at deep mid-wicket in a disastrous start to the day.

But Patterson led the way and was particularly strong through the off-side off the back foot as Warwickshire, already relegated, wilted. They conceded 40 extras.

After the game, Yorkshire’s players and the vocal Headingley crowd cheered retiring seamer Ryan Sidebottom onto the field. He remains a doubt to play at Essex with his quad injury.

GRAHAM HARDCASTLE