Yorkshire require just 10 points to seal promotion back to Division One of the Vitality County Championship after putting the finishing touches to a fourth-morning win over Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, winning by 185 runs.
With one round of the 2024 summer remaining – Yorkshire face Northamptonshire at Headingley next week – the county are in pole position ahead of closest challengers Middlesex.
Yorkshire are second in Division Two on 201 points, 15 ahead of Middlesex on 186. The Lord’s-based county travel to Hove to face league leaders and already-promoted Sussex next Thursday.
Captain Jonny Tattersall and co can still overhaul Sussex (221 points) and be champions, but they clearly that would just be an added bonus.
Of course, Yorkshire needing 10 points for promotion is just a maximum requirement. That number is based on the assumption that Middlesex claim a maximum 24-point victory over Sussex.
They could yet require fewer points to seal a return to county cricket’s top-flight for the first time since 2022.
Picture by John Heald. Matthew Fisher in action during the fourth morning at Cardiff.
Yorkshire’s fifth win of the season – in fact, their fifth win in the last six games – was completed in exactly an hour’s play on today’s final day at Cardiff.
Glamorgan, chasing 396, resumed with a forlorn task at 141-7, and they were bowled out for 209.
Fisher made the breakthrough in the ninth over of the day when he bowled Asa Tribe for a determined 58 – the fledgling opener’s maiden first-class fifty in his third game.
Fisher struck again later in the over to trap Andy Gorvin lbw, leaving the hosts at 168-9 in the 62nd over.
James Harris delayed things with an increasingly adventurous 49 as wickets fell around him. He hoisted George Hill for six over mid-wicket to move into the forties.
Harris enjoyed an excellent game for Glamorgan with 40 in the first innings and five wickets in the second innings, added to today’s contribution.
Picture by John Heald. Matthew Fisher and his Yorkshire team-mates celebrate after the wicket of Andy Gorvin.
But he fell short of 50 as Jordan Thompson bowled him at 11.30am to seal victory.
A number of players impressed for rampant Yorkshire. Ben Coad finished with four wickets in each innings and Fisher four in the first and three in the second.
Hill’s first-innings 90 was the standout contribution with the bat for a Yorkshire side who are nearly there in terms of promotion.
