Glamorgan Dragons all but gained promotion to Division One of the Norwich Union League when they defeated Hampshire Hawks by a convincing 51 run margin.

After Newell and Thomas had given the home side a quick start, their innings stumbled to 55 for 4 as Mascarenhas and Mullally put out the stops.

Former England star Matthew Maynard, however, restored the impetus of the innings putting on 68 with Michael Powell and 92 with stand-in skipper Adrian Dale.

Maynard's sparkling 116 not out from only 103 balls included 12 fours and two huge sixes to delight the home crowd and the Sky TV viewers.

With the sun setting and moisture on the outfield, the target of 245 to win batting second was always going to be a tough ask.

Hampshire pulled off a surprise start by promoting James Hamblin, whose previous best score in the NUL was just 5 to open the innings with Neil Johnson. Hamblin struck the ball well, hitting 18 runs off one over from Owen Parkin and contributing a quickfire 37 off 22 balls.

Johnson was more circumspect, but his run-a-ball innings of 66 was the only decent contribution to a disappointing collapse.

The innings turned in Glamorgan's favour when their twin spin pair of Dean Cosker and Robert Croft came together and by the time they had completed their 18 over stint, the Hampshire innings was in disarray.

Taking advantage of the damp conditions and the poor floodlighting, Croft dismissed four of the middle order, including Johnson and Cosker bowled a tidy spell of nine overs for 25.

Glamorgan's victory was celebrated by the large crowd with the team running around the pitch in thanks to their fans. Hampshire, although not totally out of the promotion stakes must now win their last two matches against Middlesex at West End and Sussex at Hove, and hope that other results elsewhere go their way if they are to be in the final shake-up at the end of the season.

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