Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, hailed his side’s ‘deserved’ promotion to division one of the County Championship, despite an eight-wicket defeat at home to Middlesex.

The New Road outfit, who have now played all their fixtures, required Essex, playing Warwickshire at Chelmsford, to slip up in order to guarantee promotion.

However an inspired double century from Tony Frost, the visitors’ wicket keeper, frustrated the fielding side and helped ensure Worcestershire’s ascension.

"It's one of the goals we set out to achieve and I think we deserved to get promoted with the way we have played this year;” Solanki said.

"We certainly have been one of the two better sides - if not the best side - in the division this year.

"I don't mean that in an arrogant way in any shape or form or anything like that. I just think we have played good cricket and we do deserve promotion.

"We need to enjoy it as a reasonable achievement and as far as planning for next season is concerned we can set about doing it after a bit of a rest."

A century in the first innings from Andrew Strauss, the England opening batsman, and an unbeaten 28 in the second guided Middlesex to an easy victory at Kidderminster.

"Throughout the season we have let ourselves down on two occasions, against Derbyshire and here at Kidderminster against Middlesex;” Solanki added.

"But the group of guys can be very proud of how they have gone about their business throughout the year."

Warwickshire, who currently sit second in the table, are favourites to join Worcestershire in division one next season while Middlesex, Essex and Northamptonshire will battle it out for the remaining spot.