Warwickshire's vital victory

Warwickshire 190-8 Glamorgan 182 Warwickshire win by 8 runs

There was a cup final atmosphere here yesterday. The gates were shut with a full house inside, there was bright sunshine, a thrilling contest between two of the top six sides in the table and a result which may help to decide the winners of the Sunday League.

Warwickshire's score of 190 for 8 may not have been as big as they would have liked but it was more than seemed probable when they were 108 for 6 in the 28th over. In the event it has taken them to within two points of Glamorgan at the top of the table with a match in hand.

At the start of their pursuit Glamorgan soon lost Hugh Morris to an excellent catch behind the wicket by Keith Piper. Matthew Maynard took over and began to bat as if he intended to win the match with 10 overs to spare but then played Allan Donald into his stumps.

A slower one from Donald then accounted for Tony Cottey with the help of another good catch by Piper. David Hemp produced some lovely front foot strokes before being caught at long off.

James now reached his 10th one-day fifty this year and then pulled Twose and was superbly caught by Dermot Reeve at midwicket - both sides fielded brilliantly - and 29 were needed from the last 34 balls.

James' dismissal made it 162 for 5 and nine runs later, in the 36th over, Adrian Dale pulled Reeve to Neil Smith at midwicket. Then, in the final helter-skelter, Robert Croft was stumped, Colin Metson was run out, Hamesh Anthony yorked and finally Steve Watkin was bowled and the huge crowd began to wend its way home.

Morris, who had put Warwickshire in, will have had second thoughts as they strove to 85 for 1 in 19 overs with England's newest Test selection, Nick Knight, showing the way.

At 108 for 6, Knight was joined by Paul Smith who helped him add 44 for the seventh wicket before he was eighth out at 173 caught in front of the sightscreen. But the last four erratic overs of the innings produced 45 crucial runs and 190 was always going to be competitive on this slow pitch.