Imperative Yorkshire lower champions Gloucestershire's colours in England women's county finals encounter at Delamere Forest

Captain Heather Muir's side slipped to a surprising 5-4 defeat to Surrey - previously bottom of the table - on day three of the five-day round robin event.

However, they can still claim the title by defeating Gloucestershire and following it up with victory against Lincolnshire on Friday as the title would then be decided on the outcome of Yorkshire's match with the title holders.

Yorkshire took a 2-1 lead against Surrey from the morning foursomes - Deb Henery (Hickleton) and Melissa Wood (Woodsome Hall), and Lily Hirst (Woodsome Hall) and Evie Cooke (Rudding Park) prevailing in their matches after Nicola Slater (Lindrick) and Hannah Holden (Huddersfield and Lightcliffe) had suffered their first loss of the week in the top match.

Slater looked to be well in command of her match in the lead-off singles, being four up at the turn, but Surrey's Lottie Woad turned the tables on the England international to record a 2&1 win.

It unfortunately meant that Cooke's stirring comeback in the anchor match, from two holes down with five to play to win by two holes, ultimately counted for nothing on the day.

But Yorkshire will have added resolve when they face Gloucestershire, who made it three wins from three by defeating Lincolnshire 6-3, while Norfolk beat Buckinghamshire 5.5-3.5.