James Vince and Sean Ervine hit hundreds as Hampshire staged a dramatic first day rescue act to salvage their LV County Championship, Division 2 promotion dreams in today's Cardiff sunshine.

Prospects of regaining First Division status – alongside already promoted Worcestershire – were in grave danger of disappearing down the River Taff and into Cardiff Bay when Glamorgan reduced them to 55-5 in bowler friendly conditions.

But Vince, with 144, and Ervine, whose 107 was his second consecutive Championship match hundred, shared a record double century sixth-wicket stand against Glamorgan to turn the tide.

They put on 225 in 58 overs to point Hampshire towards an eventual 357 all out – ironically, the highest first innings total made at the SWALEC Stadium this season.

Chris Wood (35) and Imran Tahir, with an unbeaten 22, later added vital runs to ensure Hampshire ended in the first day in the box seat.

Such a scenario was unthinkable just after mid-day with Hampshire’s top five back in the pavilion and only 53 runs on the board.

Taking a potential gamble by winning the toss and batting in dew-topped conditions, Hampshire lost Will Smith (10) and Liam Dawson (to a third ball duck) to Jim Allenby in the eighth over.

With the ball nipping about off the seam, Smith was caught behind by Mark Wallace and Dawson neatly snapped up at gully by Dean Cosker.

Hampshire progressed to 50 without further loss – but then lost three more wickets for three runs in the space of 20 deliveries.

Jimmy Adams (10) edged Graham Wagg behind (50-3) before Tom Alsop and Adam Wheatear fell to Allenby (4-74) in successive balls.

With promotion rivals Essex routing Worcestershire for a dismal 84 at the same, Hampshire’s prospects were bleak.

Vince and Ervine progressed the score to 91-5 by lunch – two balls after which Hampshire got the biggest reprieve of the day.

Vince, on 47 and looking in top form, pulled a delivery from Michael Hogan straight into the hands of deep mid-wicket David Lloyd – and out again!

It was a straight-forward chance – the spill effectively kick-starting a double-century partnership between Vince and Ervine which turned the day – and maybe the season – in Hampshire’s favour.

With conditions easing in the warm South Wales sunshine and the ball becoming softer, Hampshire took control with a sixth-wicket stand of real quality.

Vince was the dominant partner, punching drives off the front foot and racing to a fourth century of the season off 134 balls and containing 17 fours.

He appeared set for 150 or more when, on 144, he picked out England Under-17 captain Aneurin Donald, who took a tumbling catch at deep mid-wicket.

It was a disappointing end to a gem of a 21-boundary innings by Vince, who overtook Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth as the country’s leading First Class run scorer for the season in the process.

Vince has now made 1,477 runs this season, compared with Lyth’s 1,438 for the County Champions.

The departure of Vince allowed Ervine centre stage – and the Zimbabwean didn’t disappoint.

With Chris Wood a reliable partner, he went on to make 107, hitting a six and 14 fours, following up his crucial century against Kent with another three-figure score.

Ervine was eventually caught down the leg-side by Wallace, after which Wood (35) – though losing Matt Coles cheaply – and Tahir (22 not out) added crucial lower-order runs to put Hampshire in a potentially strong position at 357 all out.