WARWICKSHIRE'S hopes of maintaining their title challenge were dashed by Glamorgan under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

After rain restricted Glamorgan to 36 overs and 172 for five, Warwickshire needed 185 to win but, apart from a brief flourish by Brian Lara, they were rarely in contention.

Lara won the toss and after being put in Glamorgan's openers, Steve James and Matthew Maynard, made a brisk 80 in 17 overs before James was bowled by Mohammed Sheikh.

Tim Munton, in his first AXA League game of the season, was lofted for six by Maynard but got his revenge three overs later when he trapped the Glamorgan captain leg before.

Adrian Dale and Michael Powell staged an enterprising partnership and Glamorgan were satisfied with their total on a sluggish pitch.

Warwickshire subsided to 32 for three in the sixth over. Nick Knight nicked one from Andrew Davies to the wicketkeeper and Neil Smith, playing across the line, was bowled by Owen Parkin. Graeme Welch was yorked by Davies.

Lara did not appear until the fall of the fourth wicket when Dominic Ostler was leg before to Robert Croft. He was soon into his stride with four boundaries but, after putting on 50 with Trevor Penney, was sent back by his partner and could not beat Croft's throw from mid-on.