WORCESTERSHIRE lost their the top of the table spot in the County Championship Division Two after going down by 81 runs to Glamorgan at Swansea.

While Glamorgan were elated at their first win of the season, Worcestershire made a valiant effort to pull off what would have been an unlikely victory.

Chasing a winning target of 334, Worcestershire at 217-6 and again at 247-7 cast major doubts in Welsh minds that they could pull off a win.

Glamorgan skipper Matthew Maynard felt it was not in doubt, saying: "I always thought we would secure the win, though I knew they would battle hard and I expected a good stand or two. We had to work hard to get them out and they contributed to a fine cricket match over the four days that we had badly needed to win.

"They were a much better side to play than Essex were recently and were good opponents. We now have a win under our belts and we can go forward from this."

Worcestershire's fifth-wicket pair of David Leatherdale and Steve Rhodes were parted in the sixth over of the final day as Leatherdale, having scored three singles to reach his fifth score of 50 or more this season, was trapped half forward to Steve Watkin.

Rhodes struck out at Dean Cosker, but failed to clear mid-off and was gone for 37 at 147-6. Glamorgan were then held up by Stuart Lampitt and Richard Illingworth, who added a battling 70 for the seventh wicket to take lunch at 217-6.

One ball after lunch was all that was required to end Worcestershire hopes, as Lampitt, having made his best Championship score of the season, could only play Cosker to short leg for 43. It was over as far as winning was concerned, but Illingworth and Matthew Rawnsley added another 30 runs.

Illingworth succumbed for 44, edging to the wicketkeeper and five runs later Kabir Ali was snapped up by Cosker's close catchers. All that remained was Rawnsley and he fell without further addition, bowled by Darren Thomas.

Bill Athey, Worcestershire's coach, said: "They deserved it as they played better than we did. They were always just in front, yet we improved on our poor performance against Sussex."