A MATCH-WINNING partnership of 132 between Vince Wells, who scored an unbeaten 51, and Aftab Habib (67) guided Leicestershire into the last eight of the competition after Glamorgan had threatened to unsettle the Benson and Hedges Cup finalists by reducing them to 42 for four in the 19th over.

A disciplined bowling performance from Leicestershire dismissed Glamorgan in 59 overs, but a target of 189 was not enough to contain Leicestershire's formidable batting line-up.

Glamorgan's innings was built around Matthew Maynard, who scored 66 from 122 balls. After the openers had departed to Alan Mullally, Maynard and Adrian Dale put on 55 before Dale and Tony Cottey were quickly dismissed.

After Mike Powell was out and Glamorgan had slumped to 123 for five, Robert Croft was given a rousing reception following his doughty performance at Old Trafford. But Maynard's innings ended with a well-judged catch at deep mid-wicket.

Dominic Williamson, the sixth bowler used by Leicestershire, was his team's most successful, ending with five for 37 as Glamorgan's last four wickets subsided for only four runs.

Leicestershire's openers took the score to 28 before Steve Watkin struck in his seventh over. He had Darren Maddy brilliantly caught by Maynard in the gully, and with his next ball Ben Smith edged to the wicketkeeper.

Watkin made further inroads in his following over when Phil Simmons was trapped leg before and the Glamorgan seamer was rested with exemplary figures of 9-2-13-3. Then Darren Thomas, with his fifth ball, induced Ian Sutcliffe to play on and at that stage Glamorgan were favourites to win.

At tea Leicestershire required 122 from 35 overs and although Habib was out with 15 runs needed, they won with 4.4 overs to spare. Wells was named man-of-the-match for his economical bowling and undefeated innings.