Dragons Fire too much for Phoenix

Glamorgan Dragons' fire proved too much for Yorkshire Phoenix at Cardiff in their Norwich Union League Division One encounter.

Both teams were level on 26 points at the start of play and retained legitimate hopes of winning the trophy. But it is the Dragons - who still have a game in hand over many of their competitors - that now find themselves only two points away from the top of the table, while Phoenix are left as outsiders in what is proving to be a frustrating season for them.

It was the spin bowling of Robert Croft (3-27) and Dean Cosker (4-17) that turned the game in favour of the home team after Phoenix had looked to be cruising to victory in a rain-affected contest.

Set 175 runs in win (by the Duckworth/Lewis method), Phoenix were well set at 86-1 in just the 10th over when Croft started their slide with the wicket of Matt Wood. Chris Silverwood followed just eight runs later, for an excellent 55 in 39 balls as pinch-hitter, while Richard Dawson and Anthony McGrath both followed before the 100 was posted.

Michael Lumb and Gary Fellows regrouped for a while, but the introduction of Dean Cosker's left-arm spin into the attack hastened the end and Phoenix fell away to be dismissed for 153, 21 runs short of their target.

Earlier the Dragons made a decent start after electing to bat. Robert Croft began a good all-round performance with a brisk 37 (in 45 balls with seven fours), putting on 84 for the first wicket with Ian Thomas (40).

But after Ryan Sidebottom claimed Croft's wicket, more rain caused more delays and the game was further reduced to 22 over a side.

Upon the resumption four wickets fell for 12 runs. Again it was spin that caused the problems, Andy Gray striking in his first over, having Ian Thomas - who had looked so good before the rain came - stumped. Fellow off-spinner Richard Dawson then took two in two balls, bowling Michael Powell for 12 before having Dragons' skipper Steve James lbw first ball. Gray - who finished with 3-23 - then dismissed the dangerous Maynard before Darren Thomas provided some acceleration with three quick boundaries in a nine-ball cameo of 19.

But Gray struck once again, dismissing Thomas before Adrian Dale and Mark Wallace took the total to 149 from their 22 overs.

Duckworth/Lewis saw the target rise to 175, but despite the continued form of Silverwood as pinch-hitter this season, Croft and Cosker's spin proved too much and the run chase ended in failure.