An unbeaten century from youngster Mark Powell thwarted Glamorgan's victory hopes and helped Northamptonshire escape with a draw at Cardiff.

Twenty-one-year-old opener Powell hit a career-best 108 not out in two minutes short of five hours.

He combined with 'keeper Toby Bailey (24 not out) in a backs-to-the-wall seventh wicket stand of 90 after Northants - needing 447 to win - were reduced to a perilous 152 for six.

Glamorgan resumed on 470 for five with the contest seemingly drifting towards a draw on a good batting wicket.

However, the hosts decided to bat on before declaring on 528 for seven.

Michael Powell, 82 not out, added 10 to his overnight score before being bowled by Carl Greenidge after appearing to be beaten for pace.

Skipper Robert Croft continued his good form with the bat and hit an unbeaten 71 off only 78 balls before declaring when Darren Thomas (17) was well caught by Mark Powell off Greenidge.

Hopes shattered

Any hopes Northants had of staging a successful run-chase were shattered by the loss of two early wickets.

Robert White (six) departed after gloving Andrew Davies behind to Mark Wallace and David Sales (five) was soon clean bowled by David Harrison.

Powell was batting solidly but Jeff Cook's answer to the crisis was to go for his shots.

He blasted 30 off just 16 balls - with six fours and a six - before he mistimed a drive off spinner Croft and was caught at cover by Dean Cosker.

Northants quickly subsided to 74 for four when skipper and first-innings centurion Tony Penberthy (five) gloved a catch off Thomas to Wallace.

With victory out of the question, Powell and Matt Cassar steadied the Northants' ship in an attempt to secure a draw.

Cassar (41) helped Powell add 73 for the fifth wicket before a miscued drive off Croft saw him caught at mid-wicket by Cosker.

And Northants were in some danger when Gerard Brophy (five) was leg before to Cosker, playing back instead of forward.

However, Powell and Bailey hardly played a false stroke in frustrating the Glamorgan attack in a two-hour stand spanning 39 overs.

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.