Surrey’s third successive County Championship title was confirmed as Somerset fell to a 168-run defeat away to Lancashire.

It took just 32 minutes and 7.1 overs on the fourth morning at Emirates Old Trafford for the hosts to complete a third win of the season .

Resuming on 204-6, Somerset were dismissed for 224, with Luke Wells (4-36) taking two of the wickets, and Anderson Phillip the other two to finish with 3-81.

While the result ends Somerset’s hopes of winning a maiden County Championship title, it does little to boost Lancashire’s chances of avoiding relegation after next week’s concluding round of matches.

Keaton Jennings’ side will be playing Division Two cricket next season regardless of the result of their final game against Worcestershire if Nottinghamshire take at least 10 points at home to Warwickshire, who would also need five points from that game.

Somerset lost a wicket to the first ball of the day when Lewis Gregory was deceived by Wells’ googly and bowled for a golden duck.

Lancashire enjoyed more success in the next over when Craig Overton was leg-before wicket to Phillip for four, and Brett Randell was then bowled for nine by Wells.

The game ended – and Surrey’s hat-trick of titles was confirmed – when James Rew was bowled by Phillip for 31.

Somerset’s defeat also saw them slip to third below Hampshire who leapfrogged into second place with victory against Worcestershire.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network.