Knight hits second B&H century in two days as Warwickshire win

Nick Knight's second century in two days kept Warwickshire in contention in the Benson & Hedges Cup, but Glamorgan, beaten finalists last year, are now out of the reckoning after four straight defeats.

Knight took the gold award by adding an unbeaten 107 to his 101 against Northamptonshire on Friday and Warwickshire successfully defended a total of 227 for eight to win by 55 when Glamorgan were dismissed for 172.

The out-of-sorts Welsh county came into the match without leading seamer Steve Watkin and lost another bowler down when Darren Thomas suffered a rib injury in his first and only over.

This became too much of a handicap as Knight made measured progress to his third century in his last five innings against Glamorgan in all competitions. In all he hit ten fours from 144 balls in a faultess exhibition on a slow pitch.

Mark Wagh was the only other batsman to top even 30, sharing in an opening stand of 91, and Keith Piper was next highest scorer with 22 from 18 balls in a late surge from 178 for 6.

Keith Newell manfully filled the gap in the Welsh attack by taking three for 37, but two wickets by Alex Wharf in the final over came too late to spare Glamorgan a testing target.

Newell and fellow-opener Jimmy Maher perished to loose shots and Michael Powell failed to make an impact before he was bowled in a superb opening spell of one for five in seven overs by West Indian paceman Vasbert Drakes.

Matthew Maynard briefly raised hopes with 34 until falling to the ever-improving Mohammad Sheikh (3 for 27) and Dougie Brown scooped up Adrian Shaw (39) and Thomas (22) to finish with 3 for 36.