Glamorgan maintained their hold on top spot of the totesport League Division One with a 33-run win over Gloucestershire at Swansea.

Robert Croft's 68 provided the backbone to the home side's innings.

The 34-year-old took 45 balls to reach his tally before he was first man out, caught by Stephen Adshead off Jon Lewis.

However, the Gladiators' attack had his team-mates pinned down for long stretches, although Matthew Maynard managed 67 from 76 balls.

When David Hemp was caught off Michael Smith for seven, the Dragons were 147-4, but they eventually totalled 250, a mark that proved beyond Gloucestershire.

The visitors made a game attempt with Matt Windows and Shoaib Malik both earning half-centuries but it was not enough.

The Glamorgan team must have been further cheered when news came through that Lancashire, who had started the day second, had lost by 56 runs to Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

The visitors were always up against it after allowing the Spitfires to advance to 301, largely on the back of a century from Andrew Symonds, who took just 110 balls to make 146.

Northamptonshire cruised to an eight-wicket win over bottom side Essex on the back of a solid performance from Martin van Jaarsveld.

The South African cracked an unbeaten 96 from 114 balls, featuring 11 boundaries, as the home side breezed past the Eagles' disappointing total of 151 all out with more than 13 overs to spare.

Hampshire moved into second place with a narrow 28-run win after bowling out Warwickshire for 213.

In Division Two, Middlesex's promotion hopes were given a lift with an eight-wicket victory over a Derbyshire side who crashed to their fifth defeat in the competition.

The home side never recovered from losing three wickets in five balls midway through their innings and a total of 161 was never likely to be enough even on a slow pitch.