GLAMORGAN'S hopes of reaching the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals are in the balance after being comprehensively beaten by Northamptonshire in Cardiff.

Fine displays from Cameron White and Mohammed Azharullah enabled the Steelbacks to win the top of the table clash in the Midlands, Wales and West Group by six wickets, with nine balls to spare.

Glamorgan, unbeaten at home until tonight, will have to beat Gloucestershire at Cardiff on Tuesday to have any chance of reaching the last eight.

They will be looking out for the results of second-placed Somerset but could still qualify as one of the best placed sides in third, although they will no longer bag an attractive home quarter-final.

White scored 71 from 48 balls while Azharullah recorded figures of four wickets for 16 runs from his four overs as Glamorgan were restricted to 125 for nine.

Azharullah produced a fine spell, with his first three overs only producing six runs.

Only Chris Cooke, with 50 from 38 balls, took the attack to the Steelbacks' attack with only two other batsmen - Mark Wallace (22) and Nathan McCullum (20) - getting into double figures.

After the early loss of in-form Jim Allenby, Azharullah's first victim, in the third over, Cooke and Wallace got Glamorgan into a useful position at 71 for one in the 10th over.

But after Wallace holed out to Azharullah to long-on Glamorgan's runs dried up with no boundaries coming between the ninth and 14th overs.

And from 90 for two Glamorgan lost seven wickets for the addition of only 35 runs.

Captain Marcus North looked out of form as he was caught off Steven Crook before Cooke was dismissed in the next over the ball after reaching his 50.

New Zealander Nathan McCullum struck two fours but Glamorgan's total looked nothing more than competitive.

Northamptonshire had looked comfortable in the opening three overs as they reached 21 without loss but Glamorgan struck when the dangerous Richard Levis was run out at the non-striker's end off the bowler's hand.

Kyle Coetzer looked in good form but was caught at midwicket by Ben Wright off Michael Hogan to leave the Steelbacks 23 for two in the fifth over.

Cameron White hit McCullum for a straight six as the Australian took the pressure of his side's chase. After nine overs the visitors had reached 50 for two.

But they suffered a setback when captain Alex Wakely holed out off Dean Cosker to make it 62 for three in the 12th over.

Crook took the pressure off with two consecutive fours as 15 came off an over from Jim Allenby as 36 were required from the final 30 balls.

White reached his 50 from 42 balls with four fours and a six as the visitors needed only 18 runs from 18 balls.

White hit two sixes off the 17th over from McCullum as Northants eased to victory.