WORCESTERSHIRE crashed to their second Norwich Union League Division Two defeat of the season when they went down by 111 runs to Glamorgan at Cardiff.

The County were never in the hunt after the home side scored a massive 305 for six -- their highest-ever total in a 45-over innings -- which put them on their way to a fourth successive win.

It was led by Australian Jimmy Maher, who cracked a splendid 94 from 76 balls with 18 boundaries.

Maher was well supported by Robert Croft, who made 59 -- his highest county score in any competition since 1999.

Both men made their half-centuries from 41 balls with Maher reaching that mark for the first time on the Cardiff pitch.

The visitors fielded poorly. Maher was dropped on 65 by Phillip Weston at mid-on and Croft was put down on 43 by Anurag Singh at long-off, on 50 by Vikram Solanki at short cover and then by Graeme Hick off his own bowling at 58.

Maher and Croft added 151 for the second wicket in just 20 overs and Adrian Dale -- dropped by Singh on 21 -- cracked an unbeaten 52 from 36 balls with Darren Thomas battering 25 from 14 balls as he brought the 300 up from the penultimate delivery.

Worcestershire lost Singh in the second over as he attempted to pull Alex Wharf, only to drag it on to his stumps, but James Pipe -- called up when Steve Rhodes was forced to miss his first match for 10 seasons because of a torn calf muscle -- struck out.

The asking rate was almost seven an over, but a brilliant catch by Michael Powell accounted for Weston and Hick was snapped up by Maher at mid-wicket.

Croft virtually ended the contest with a double-wicket maiden as he trapped Solanki and had Andy Bichel brilliantly stumped by stand-in keeper Matthew Maynard.

Despite a solid 40 by David Leatherdale, who was beautifully taken by Adrian Dale on the boundary, Worcestershire fell for 194 to leave Glamorgan victorious.

They now join Worcestershire in equal second place on 16 points.

n A young Worcestershire Development XI crashed to a heavy 197-run defeat against Cheltenham Cricket Club yesterday.

Cheltenham made 295-8 in their 50 overs, with Australian Tony Millard, who has played for the County second team this season, hitting 100 off 98 balls. Callum Taylor (3-55) and Ben France (2-38) were the best bowlers.

In reply the County were bowled out for only 98, which would have been much worse but for Depesh Patel's unbeaten 48.