MATTHEW Maynard and Robert Croft led Glamorgan to promotion to the Norwich Union League First Division with magnificent displays at Sophia Gardens last night.

The former county skipper thrilled a large crowd for the day/night fixture by rescuing Glamorgan from a perilous 55-4 to an excellent 244-6 with an outstanding century.

England spinner Croft then grabbed a brilliant 4-19 in 23 balls in tandem with the equally superb Dean Cosker (1-25) to turn an amazing game Glamorgan's way again after Hampshire had threatened to make light of their target.

Maynard's mixture of sublime nudges and clubbing shots produced a brilliant 116 not out from just 103 balls with two mighty sixes and 12 boundaries.

It was Glamorgan's first Norwich Union century of the season and Maynard's 14th in one-day competitions, a Glamorgan record eclipsing the 13 he previously held with Hugh Morris.

He bowed to the crowd on completing his ton and received a deserved standing ovation from all but the Hampshire players at the end.

They thought they had him caught behind for only three, which would have left Glamorgan 59-5, but most people believed the appeal fatuous.

Hampshire were flying at 120-1 in reply, well ahead of the required run rate, but when the spinners came on four wicxkets fell (three to Croft) for 19 and Hampshire subsided to 193 all out, beaten by 51 runs.

Glamorgan now want to be promoted as champions and they will do that if they beat Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday.

Openers Ian Thomas and Maher smashed 25 off the opening 12 balls, but by the end of the 11th over Glamorgan were 55-4 after losing four wickets in 41 balls for 21 runs.

Maynard entered in the midst of the mayhem and lost Mike Powell after the pair had added a valuable 68.

He accelerated sensibly, with his first fifty from 64 balls.

But when joined by acting skipper Adrian Dale, the Glamorgan total accelerated as the pair pit on 92 in just 67 balls.

When Dale went for 35 in 36 balls, Maynard marched on and his second fifty came in just thirty balls.

Offspinner Shaun Udal bore the brunt of his firepower, conceding two mammoth sixes and 16 off the final over.

When Hampshire batted, under the lights as they had lost the toss and were forced to field first, they raced away with openers Neil Johnson and James Hamblin putting on 68 before Hamblin fell for 37.

Wilson, dropped on both 19 and 31, carried on with some punishing cover drives and had reached 66 from 67 balls (13 fours) before being bowled trying to cut a straight Croft delivery.

That sparked an amazing run of four dismisals in five overs with Laney brilliantly caught by Mike Powell reverse sweeping Croft, ex-England batsman Robin Smith being caught behind three balls later and then Cosker grabbing Derek Kenway, brilliantly caught by Andrew Davies running in from third man when a cut rebounded off wicketkeeper Maynard's pads.

When Croft then added John Francis to his victims it was 145-6 from 120-1 and Glamorgan were in command.

The tailed failed to wag and Hampshire were eventaully all out for 193 with 28 balls still remaining, having lost nine wickets for just 73 runs.

Our picture shows Matthew Maynard acknowledging the capacity crowd at Sophia Gardens last night after making his century against Hampshire.