How Yorkshire beat the rain to secure return

Rain was then a deciding factor as Yorkshire picked up two more draws and 14 points in games with Kent and Essex.

May: The season really kick-started in May, with Yorkshire recording their first win – after a comfortable victory over Leicestershire in Scarborough. Steve Patterson led the way, claiming career best-match figures of 8-94.

Yorkshire didn’t have to wait long before recording their second win, thanks to a four-wicket victory over Gloucestershire a week later.

Andrew Gale’s men were hauled to victory by a fourth-wicket stand of 213 from Gary Ballance (121) and Phil Jaques (160) in turn claiming top spot for the first time.

The weather once again frustrated Yorkshire a week later as their game with Hampshire ended in a draw.

June: Despite a century from Joe Root, Chris Gale was left disappointed as his Yorkshire side had to settle for a draw against Northampton. Scoring 416 all out, Yorkshire’s hopes of a victory were ended by the weather as more than 96 overs were lost due to rain.

The following fixture with Glamorgan was the worst-hit of the season, however, as only 34 overs were played.

Yorkshire had to settle for a measly four points and were unable to make up ground on first-placed Derbyshire.

July: Draws in all three of Yorkshire’s July fixtures, including an encounter with the table-toppers, saw the Tykes finish the month in second place, yet they were left wondering what might have been.

Rain forced play to stop in all three games, with three full days of play being washed out in the encounter with Derbyshire.

Highlights of the month were Joe Root’s stunning 222 off 270 balls in the draw with Hampshire and Adam Lyth’s double ton at Leicester.

August: After a rain-filled July, Yorkshire needed a strong finale to the season if they were to gain promotion.

A battling performance with Northants ended all-square as Adil Rashid took a five-wicket haul, while another draw the following week, against Derbyshire, saw the gap at the top closed to 21 points.

Then came the strong finish as Yorkshire ended with three straight victories – the win over Gloucestershire ensuring August ended on a high and set them on their way.

September: Victory over Glamorgan at Headingley put them on the the brink of an immediate return to Division One and promotion was sealed during the final match at Essex when a crushing seven-wicket defeat for Kent at Glamorgan ensured that Yorkshire could not be caught in second place. Yorkshire ended in style with a fine win.