It was fitting that James Tomlinson should bowl Hampshire to LV County Championship promotion.

Two years after watching his teammates win the Friends Life T20 in Cardiff, Tomlinson was the main man as Hampshire ended the season with their fifth trophy in five years – and a return to the first division after a three-year absence.

Back in the city where he spent his student days, the experienced leader of Hampshire’s attack took 6-48 as Hampshire beat Glamorgan by 291 runs to pip Worcestershire to the division two title by three points.

Set 444 to win, Glamorgan were bowled out for 152 with a day and a half spare.

Tomlinson claimed three wickets in eight balls before lunch and was on a hat-trick after accounting for left-handers Jacques Rudolph and Mark Wallace, who was removed by a diving James Vince at third slip.

Chris Cooke blocked the hat-trick ball before becoming the second of Tomlinson's four lbw victims in the left-armer’s next over.

Tomlinson continued to move the ball both ways in claiming three wickets in his first three overs after lunch, before enjoying what remained of the season as Hampshire achieved their primary objective.

Having not been involved in the limited-overs successes of recent years, the warmth of the applause from the hundreds of jubilant Hampshire supporters was well deserved, for Tomlinson especially, as the players left the field.

His 47 wickets at 25 apiece have gone a long way towards Hampshire’s first first-class silverware since the 1973 County Championship.

But this was a team effort - and Tomlinson is the very best of team men. After seeing Imran Tahir complete the win by bowling Kieran Bull, he said: “This is my career highlight by a mile.

“Staying up at Kent a few years ago was a brilliant moment but this is the absolute pinnacle for me.

“This is my T20 finals day. It’s a great moment. It’s been a three-year project and we’ve worked extremely hard.

“Everyone has chipped in but for the past few games, I have felt dreadful. I was so desperate for us to go up I’ve felt nervous with the pressure of it all.

“It’s been a remarkable effort. A month ago, we were feeling confident and then Essex went on a blitz.

“To hold off a team that has won six out of seven is a remarkable effort from everyone. To win three out of our last four games under that pressure is a great achievement.”

At one stage, having taken Glamorgan’s first six wickets in from just 43 balls, Tomlinson looked like he might become the first Hampshire bowler to take ten in an innings as his brothers, Hugh and Ralph, looked on.

“They all wanted me to carry on but I was knackered – physically and emotionally,” he said.

It is hoped that many years will pass before Hampshire are back in division two. It is also the end of another era.

Hampshire's Beard That’s Feared will not be seen in division one.

“It’s done well but it’s going to come off now,” laughed Tomlinson. “My wife absolutely hates it, but I’ll enjoy it for the final few days.”