WORCESTERSHIRE have been promoted back to Division One of the LV County Championship following a sensational 27 run victory against Surrey.
The Pears began the day needing nine wickets to start the promotion party but with Surrey only needing 187 runs to win, the celebrations looked like being put on ice.
Just a solitary wicket fell in the morning session when former Pear Vikram Solanki was bowled by Charlie Morris for 58 and Surrey reached lunch on 122 for 2 needing just 95 runs to take the promotion battle into the final fortnight.
But a stunning afternoon session led by centurion Jack Shantry and Moeen Ali saw the visitors crumble from 131 for 2 to 164 for 7.
Shantry, fresh from his first century with the bat, took four for 44 to secure a ten wicket haul in the match while Ali chipped in with three for 63.
The victory means the Pears return to the top flight of English cricket for the first team since relegation in 2012 and completes a successful season for the New Road side who also reached the quarter finals of the Natwest t20 Blast in July.
