Middlesex clinched promotion to Division One as champions after beating bottom side Leicestershire by five wickets at Grace Road.
The victory sealed their return to the top flight of the county championship for the first time since 2006, although they made heavy weather of chasing down a target of 124, slumping to 90 for five after losing five wickets for only 33 runs in 11 overs.
They started the last day with Leicestershire on 222 for seven, leading by just 37 runs. But it took Middlesex 22.2 overs to claim the final wickets, with the home side adding another 84 runs.
When Ned Eckersley hit the first ball of the day from Ollie Rayner to the boundary, it was clear Leicestershire were determined to go down fighting.
But after a worrying spell for Middlesex, wicketkeeper John Simpson and all-rounder Gareth Berg finally sealed their all-important eighth win of the season.
Simpson hit six fours in his unbeaten 27, while Berg – who hit an unbeaten 130 in the first innings – clinched victory in style with a six.
This post was last modified on 15/09/2011