A stubborn half-century by Ryan ten Doeschate has taken Essex to 254/7 at tea on the final day of their LV=County Championship match against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium, with the visitors needing 110 from the remaining 35 overs.
Essex began the afternoon on 158/5 still needing 206 runs in the remaining 65 overs as Glamorgan pressed for their first Championship win of the summer, and their first in Cardiff against Essex since 1997. Craig Meschede and Graham Wagg resumed the bowling duties as Ryan ten Doeschate and Kishan Velani opted for quiet accumulation. After half an hour, Andrew Salter returned to the attack with ten Doeschate cutting his first delivery of the session for four, before next over sweeping him to the ropes at long-leg.
Velani also leg-glanced Wagg for four before cover-driving Hogan when the Australian returned at the Cathedral Road End. But the canny fast bowler then switched to bowling around the wicket and with his first delivery he saw Velani chop the ball onto his stumps. 198/6 saw Callum Taylor join ten Doeschate with the youngster announcing his arrival by lofting Salter to long-off for four before top-edging a hook against Hogan which saw the ball sail to fine-leg for six.
The 17 year-old then despatched Hogan through the covers for four before nearly pulling Wagg into Hogan's hands at mid-on as he attempted another expansive pull. After being peppered with some short deliveries the young tyro then cover drove Wagg for four, before ten Doeschate swept Salter for four. He then cut Wagg for four to complete a 90-ball fifty but later in the over Taylor edged to first slip where Colin Ingram completed the catch.
Graham Napier joined ten Doeschate with 122 still required but Glamorgan held a potential trump card with the new ball being available within three overs, and Wagg duly delivered the final over of the session with the new cherry.