A superb 113 by Mike Powell helped Glamorgan to gain a slight advantage on day one against Northamptonshire.

Powell's knock, which lasted nine minutes short of four hours and featured 19 fours, laid the foundations for Glamorgan's 348 all out after Northants had won the toss and inserted their hosts.

Northants left-arm seamer Mathew Inness grabbed seven for 90, but skipper Robert Croft made sure Glamorgan did not waste their advantage with an enterprising unbeaten 59 off 86 balls.

In reply, Northants negotiated just one over before bad light halted play, making three without loss.

Northants skipper Tony Penberthy's gamble seemed to have paid off when Inness made a double breakthrough inside the first hour's play.

Beaten

Promoted 'keeper Mark Wallace (12) was the first to go when he was beaten by a good-length delivery and was bowled.

Matthew Maynard went for his shots but David Hemp (12) became the second victim for Inness when he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Tobin Bailey.

Former England batsman Maynard was dismissed soon after completing his 50 when he was trapped leg before playing only half forward to Penberthy.

Powell and Adrian Dale steadied the ship with a fourth-wicket stand of 62 before the latter was well caught by Carl Greenidge at long-on off seamer Jeff Cook.

Powell and new partner Jonathan Hughes (26) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 77 before a bowling change saw Northants strike back with Robert White trapping Hughes lbw.

Powell went on to complete his century after tea but fell with the total on 254 when he nicked a good-length Inness delivery to Bailey.

Darren Thomas (22) joined Croft in a useful seventh-wicket stand of 50 before he was caught by Jason Brown off Inness, who then bowled David Harrison for a duck.

Glamorgan just missed out on a fourth batting point when, with the total on 348, Inness bowled Andrew Davies and three balls later did well to hold on to a juggling return catch from Dean Cosker.

Glamorgan: M P Maynard, M A Wallace (Wkt), D L Hemp, M J Powell, A Dale, J Hughes, R D B Croft (Capt), S D Thomas, D S Harrison, A P Davies, D A Cosker.

Northamptonshire: R A White, M J Powell, D J G Sales, J W Cook, M E Cassar, A L Penberthy (Capt), T M B Bailey (Wkt), G L Brophy, C G Greenidge, M W H Inness, J F Brown.