Bairstow delivers birthday finish as Yorkshire edge Nottinghamshire

Yorkshire ended their County Championship campaign with a third successive victory, beating Nottinghamshire by one wicket in a tense finish at Trent Bridge.

Chasing 158 for victory, Yorkshire appeared to be in control after Will Luxton made 53 and the score reached 108-3. But the visitors then lost seven wickets for 61 runs, allowing Nottinghamshire to threaten an unlikely comeback.

With Yorkshire needing only a handful of runs, Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali pushed the game to the brink. Jonny Bairstow, celebrating his 37th birthday, held his nerve before flat-batting Ali over cover for six to complete the win. Bairstow finished unbeaten on 38.

Nottinghamshire collapse after strong overnight position

Nottinghamshire resumed on 55-3, leading by 127 runs, but their second innings rapidly unravelled. They were dismissed for 85, losing seven wickets for 30 runs in 17.1 overs.

Jack White produced the outstanding figures of the innings, taking 5-23, while Ben Coad claimed 4-27. White struck with the fourth ball of the day and continued to exploit the movement available from the Trent Bridge pitch.

Yorkshire’s chase began positively, with Luxton and Adam Lyth adding 54 in 12 overs. Nottinghamshire fought back through Mohammad Ali, Liam Patterson-White and the experienced seam attack, but Bairstow’s late assault ultimately settled the contest.

Yorkshire finish fifth as champions suffer late-season losses

The result gave Yorkshire 19 points, compared with four for Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire, who had looked on course to retain their 2025 title in August, ended the season in fourth place after successive defeats. Yorkshire finished fifth.

Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay equalled the county’s first-class record with seven dismissals in the match, although his side could not convert that individual achievement into victory.