Essex on the verge of winning cricket's County Championship

Essex celebrate victory over Warwickshire that seems certain to clinch the County Championship Credit: David Davies/PA Wire

Essex have virtually sealed their seventh Specsavers County Championship title by completing an innings-and-56-runs victory over relegation-bound Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Trailing by 168 on first innings, the home side was bowled out for 112.

With second-placed Lancashire in trouble at Somerset Essex are "champions elect"

Any hopes that the rain would help Warwickshire quickly dissolved as they continued to fall apart on 56 for 5 shortly after an early lunch.

Matt Lamb knocked off 35 before he was caught by Dan Lawrence.Lawrence then caught Jeetan Patel leaving the final pair of Ryan Sidebottom and Henry Brookes to get 63 to make Essex bat again.

They managed to add seven before Brookes fell to Simon Harmer.

It's 25 years since Essex last won the title. They should be able to start celebrating this one at some point tomorrow.

Don Topley played in previous title winning Essex sides click below to see his reaction to this latest success