GLAMORGAN'S hopes of promotion to the first division of the LV= County Championship were yesterday handed an unexpected boost after one of the most astonishing turnarounds in the history of domestic cricket.

After being bowled out for a paltry 44 in their first innings, Derbyshire somehow carved out a remarkable 54-run victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol to deliver a major dent to the West Country club's hopes of making the top two.

Gloucestershire had gone into the game looking to slash Glamorgan's 26-point advantage with two rounds of action remaining.

And the home side looked well on course to achieving that goal as 24 wickets fell on day one.

But, after being set 125 to win, some ill-disciplined batting saw Gloucestershire crash to 70 all out and an embarrassing defeat inside two days.

Tim Groenewald was the pick of Derbyshire's bowlers, taking four for 22, while new-ball partner Graham Wagg — who is poised to sign for Glamorgan for next season — claimed three for 31.

It meant Gloucestershire only took three points from the match, so Glamorgan go into their final two games 22 points ahead of third-placed Worcestershire and 23 above Gloucestershire.

Matthew Maynard's men take on Surrey at The Oval, starting on Tuesday, Worcestershire meet Middlesex at Lord's, while Gloucestershire are at Leicester.

Meanwhile, Glamorgan have included 21-year-old Pontarddulais seamer Alex Jones and South African wicket-keeper-batsman Chris Cooke in their CB40 squad for their final match of the group against Somerset Sabres at Taunton on Saturday.

Glamorgan: J. Allenby, W. Bragg, D. Brown, T. Maynard, B. Wright, G. Rees, C. Cooke, M. Wallace, D. Cosker, W. Owen, C. Ashling, D. Harrison, A. Jones.