Yorkshire picked up the four extra points they needed to clinch promotion yesterday, but only after clinging on desperately for a draw at Derby in a match which brought one of the most extraordinary reversals in fortune they have ever experienced.

At tea on the third day Derbyshire were 232 for seven in their second innings, still requiring 71 to avoid the innings defeat.

But the last three wickets added an amazing 290 runs and their final score of 523 left Yorkshire to make 220 off a minimum of 59 overs to win and climb above Durham into second place.

The nightmare continued as Matthew Wood was lbw in the first over, and with Anthony McGrath soon following him back to the pavilion Yorkshire's confidence was at such a low ebb that all they could do was shut up shop.

Michael Lumb, nine from 16 overs, was lbw to Wayne Watson the ball before tea and soon after the interval Craig White was caught at short leg off Ant Botha.

Opener Joe Sayers stuck like a limpet but Ian Harvey and Tim Bresnan went in consecutive overs to make it 82 for six, and it was Simon Guy who had to keep Sayers company for the last 12 overs.

Yorkshire were 114 for six at the close, which left them with a total of 12 points.

They now require eight points from their last match at Northampton tomorrow to move into second place and gain £15,000 in prizemoney.

Derbyshire resumed on 366 for seven with Botha on 98 and Tom Lungley on 34, and although Lungley soon fell to leg-spinner, Mark Lawson, carnage ensued as Botha and Nick Walker thrashed 133 in 25 overs.

Botha continued to bat with remarkable composure while Walker hit three sixes off Lawson and raced to his half-century off 45 balls.

Botha was dropped by Lumb at deep cover on 123 and when the score went past 491 it overtook Derbyshire's previous highest against Yorkshire which was made at Bradford Park Avenue in 1949.

Walker fell lbw to Harvey for 79 and Lawson's dismissal of last man Wayne White left Botha unbeaten on 156 from 201 deliveries with 18 fours and a six.