Salisbury's plain brilliance

Ian Salisbury took four wickets to set up Surrey's victory

Ian Salisbury capped his best season for 14 years by helping Surrey pull off a dramatic five-wicket victory off the last ball of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two match with Derbyshire.

The former England leg-spinner took four wickets at Derby and then hit an unbeaten 21 as he and skipper Mark Butcher took the Division Two champions to their target of 273 from 40 overs.

Surrey needed only five from the last over but Graham Wagg kept his nerve and Butcher and Salisbury had to scramble a bye to the wicketkeeper to clinch their 10th success of the season.

An entertaining end to the campaign was set up when Surrey closed their first innings on 275 for eight, 110 behind, and Derbyshire made 162 for eight before declaring.

Salisbury's 4-53 took his first-class haul of wickets to 62, his best since 1992, and his six in the penultimate over swung the game in Surrey's favour.

But opener Scott Newman put the visitors on course with 83 from 76 balls and Butcher - who had to retire hurt with a ricked neck in the first innings - skilfully found the gaps to finish unbeaten on 59.

Scott Newman scored quick runs at the top of the order

Both teams deserve credit for enterprise to provide an enthralling finale to the season after rain had wiped out the last two sessions on the third day.

Wicketkeeper Lee Goddard marked his final game for Derbyshire with an unbeaten 43 to add to his first innings 91 and Paul Borrington made a career-best 38 while Nayan Doshi captured three wickets to finish with 51 first-class victims.

Newman and James Benning then got Surrey off to a flier with 50 from the first five overs but Derbyshire hit back when Wagg had Benning caught at midwicket and Ant Botha bowled the dangerous Ali Brown for eight.

Newman twice pulled Wagg over midwicket for six and also hit 11 fours before he skied off-spinner Greg Smith to long-off.

Wayne White took two wickets

Young pace bowler Wayne White raised Derbyshire's hopes by sending back Stewart Walters and Jon Batty.

Surrey needed 34 off the last fours overs and although Butcher and Salisbury ran well between the wickets, the game was still in the balance until Salisbury swept Botha over the deep square leg boundary.

Wagg almost gave the game a final twist with a tight last over but Goddard's shy at the stumps missed and Salisbury made his ground to ensure Surrey finished a triumphant season on a high.

The victory means they have beaten every team in Division Two, while Derbyshire lost out on fourth spot after Leicestershire beat Essex to go above them.