STEVE Patterson's 44 not out to get us over the line against Warwickshire on Friday was, for me, the innings of our season.

It was also the best innings I've seen in that kind of situation since I started playing.

To do what he did with the amount of pressure on, it was just outstanding. Matthew Fisher's contribution of 15 was invaluable but how 'Patto' played was something else.

He hasn't played as much as he'd like this year, so for him to go and get four vital wickets in the second innings and do what he did with the bat, I couldn't be happier for him.

He's found himself going from almost the first name on the team sheet to not playing a large number of games through the season, so this was probably just a gentle reminder as to how good he is and what he can bring – and not only with his wickets.

He's a really gutsy character and a really important cog in a successful Yorkshire team.

He's been one of a few of us who have had frustrating campaigns for one reason or another, so it's great to know that we have contributed over the past few weeks.

Jack Brooks is another who would have hoped to play more than he has and his five-for in the first innings at Surrey was very impressive.

Had we lost that Warwickshire game, we would be going into this week at Essex in a straight shootout with Somerset.

Now it not only puts daylight between us and Somerset, there's also a couple of other clubs below us as well in Middlesex and Hampshire.

We have been under par this season but that partnership shows just what this group of players has been all about over the last four to five years.

We were concerned on the balcony at 96-7, no doubt. We had lost quick wickets to a bowler in Jeetan Patel who was turning it square. It was even going a lot from the good stuff on the pitch.

To rely on numbers eight and nine to get 70-odd runs, a win was a long way off – but it was unbelievable.

'Fish' was superb and he showed just how good a player he can be for us going forwards. They had clear game plans against Jeetan, which they trusted and executed.

We've had some tight, exciting and nervous finishes over the last few years but this one felt completely different because of the consequences. No-one wants to be in a team that gets relegated. Thankfully we are now in a great position to be able to avoid that.

It's amazing to think we can still finish second in the table, which would be higher than last year when we went into the final week with a very good chance of winning the league again.

We want to play the kind of cricket which reminds people what we are about and I don't think there would be anything better than going to Chelmsford today, beating the champions and finishing the season off on a high.

We didn't acquit ourselves well in the home fixture at Scarborough and we don't want that to happen again.

We've got Ryan Sidebottom retiring as well. It would be great to send him off with two wins.

I still don't think there's a better bowler than him in the league. His skills are remarkable. In the dressing room, he offers so much, particularly for the bowlers. He will be irreplaceable.

It will be interesting to see how we do go without him – but everyone retires or moves on at some point. Fortunately for him, he's going on his own terms and still at the top of his game. Starting out as a player, that must be really comforting.