Maynard's top drawer

If there was one way to reward Matthew Maynard's popular tenure as Glamorgan capt- ain, it was by securing promotion to the First Division of the County Championship. The former England batsman, who said he would stand down last week after five years in charge, had brought the Welsh county their first Championship title for 28 seasons under a coach called Duncan Fletcher in 1997.

If there was one way to reward Matthew Maynard's popular tenure as Glamorgan capt- ain, it was by securing promotion to the First Division of the County Championship. The former England batsman, who said he would stand down last week after five years in charge, had brought the Welsh county their first Championship title for 28 seasons under a coach called Duncan Fletcher in 1997.

As Essex charged into the top flight at Chelmsford, Glamorgan played out a draw with Middlesex at Cardiff to ensure elevation. Justin Langer was unbeaten on 213 off 250 balls with 22 fours and a six as the visitors were dismissed for 387, seamer Owen Parkin taking 4 for 74. The three bowling points guaranteed promotion.

At Bristol, Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire were among six counties who could have been contenders for the same prize. The hosts declared on their overnight 73 for 1 and Nottinghamshire made 104 for 3 to leave the one-day wonders with 248 to win in 59 overs. Jack Russell typically led the charge with 53 as they sneaked home on 248 for 7 but they still missed out on promotion by two points.

As fellow New South Welshmen had the eyes of the world upon them, pace ace Glenn McGrath failed to deliver promotion to New Road despite his 8 for 41. Declaring on 124 for 7, 136 runs in arrears, Worcester-shire bundled out champions Northamptonshire for just 125 but, requiring an unlikely 262 in 43 overs, they were reduced to 119 for 6. With 12 for 116 in the match, McGrath was still the leading wicket-taker in his first county season with 80.

As First Division champions Surrey denied Lancashire victory at Old Trafford, Yorkshire failed to dislodge their Roses rivals in the runners-up position despite beating Hampshire at Southampton. Their second innings closed on 265, Darren Lehmann making 92, to set a target of 258, and the fragile home batting succumbed for 185 as off-spinner James Middlebrook picked up 5 for 88.

Surrey reached 359 thanks to a last-wicket stand of 116 between Martin Bicknell with 79 not out, and 54 from Saqlain Mushtaq. But Lancashire were content with 304 for 9. Elsewhere, rain had the last word. Kent drew with Leicestershire at Canterbury having survived the drop, while demoted Derbyshire drew with Somerset.

Zimbabwe's seven-wicket defeat in the First Test against New Zealand at Bulawayo was exacerbated by Darrell Hair "calling" slow left-armer Grant Flower for throwing. The umpire sparked off the controversy over ri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan by calling him at the MCG in December 1995.

Zimbabwe, resuming on 105 for 5, were skittled out in just 65 balls, paceman Chris Cairns producing a spell of 4 for 9 to claim 5 for 31 as the hosts were all out for 119. Set 132 to win, a watchful 43 not out by opener Matt Horne ensured victory.