Essex gain a first innings lead of 36 runs at Chelmsford

Yesterday was something of a curate's egg for the Welsh county, who in the penultimate over before tea were on 162/3, and seemingly well set for a commanding total on the sluggish surface. But Will Bragg departed for 93 and by the time his partner Chris Cooke was dismissed in the last over of the day for 68, Glamorgan had lost seven wickets for 82 runs in 32 overs, with Reece Topley in his first Championship game of the summer almost single-handedly saw Essex surge back into the contest.


Despite early morning drizzle, play began on time with Michael Hogan and Graham Wagg opening the bowling to Tom Westley and Jaik Mickleburgh. Westley began proceedings by scything a delivery from Hogan over the head of gully but Wagg struck in his second over as Mickleburgh departed l.b.w. Greg Smith duly came in and pulled a short ball from Hogan to the ropes at mid-wicket before Tom Helm and Jim Allenby bowled in tandem.


Smith edged Allenby to third man for four before Westley again played a ball in the air over the gully, this time from Helm, followed two balls later by a flowing cover drive for four. But the opener then shouldered arms to an in-swinger from Allenby and saw his middle wicket go cartwheeling out of the ground as Essex lost their second wicket on 43. His departure prompted the arrival of Jesse Ryder who began by guiding a full toss from Helm almost to the ropes at deep point before caressing a ball from Allenby through the covers as the Essex fifty came up in the 20^th over.


The big-hitting Kiwi then swatted a short ball from Wagg into the Pavilion for six before Smith cut a delivery from Allenby through point for four. Ryder then biffed a cover drive against Wagg before Dean Cosker, the most successful English-qualified spinner in the country so far this season, entered the attack at the River End. Ryder responded by cutting him for four before Smith swatted a bouncer from Wagg to long-leg. Hogan returned shortly before lunch and was steered through the slips by Ryder before rain brought an early lunch.

Play resumed at 1.35pm after the short shower had stopped which had forced the umpires and players off the field for an early lunch. The floodlights though had come on as there was still a heavy cloud cover, and the Glamorgan attack responded with an excellent post-lunch spell


Jesse Ryder began by swatting Tom Helm's opening delivery through backward point for four before Smith did the same later in the over. But with the total on 107, Hogan bowled Ryder as the Kiwi southpaw played down the wrong line to the Australian seamer.


Mark Pettini announced his arrival cutting Helm for four before Smith guided Hogan to third man. Graham Wagg then returned at the River End and bowling around the wicket he re-arranged Smith's stumps. 119/4 then became 125/5 as Hogan continued his fine spell by finding the outside edge of Ben Foakes' bat which Mark Wallace - the country's leading wicket-keeper - safely pouched.


With drizzle falling again, Pettini steered Wagg through point for four but with the rain getting heavier the umpires took the players off the field again, with 25 minutes playing time being lost. The break allowed Hogan and Wagg to recharge their batteries and continue bowling. Pettini swatted a short ball from Wagg to the ropes at mid-wicket, before leg-glancing the next two deliveries to the ropes, much to the angst of the bowler.


James Foster opened his account with a single to square-leg followed by a crisp cover drive against Wagg who shortly afterwards was replaced at the River End by Dean Cosker. Jim Allenby also returned at the Hayes Close End and was driven straight by Foster. Shortly afterwards, Pettini completed a 95-ball fifty which Foster celebrated by square-driving Allenby.

The hour before tea had seen Mark Pettini and James Foster stage a rally after the clatter of wickets, under heavy cloud, in the hour after lunch, and with the total on 184/5 both batsmen were looking to further consolidate, but their hopes were swiftly dashed as the wily Cosker, who had got one delivery before tea to sharply turn had Pettini smartly caught at leg-slip by Graham Wagg to the second delivery of his post-tea spell.


Matt Salisbury then almost edged Michael Hogan to first slip before Foster drilled Cosker through mid-wicket for four. The home captain then survived a loud appeal for a catch behind the stumps to the spinner but with the total on 197 Tom Helm returned and had Salisbury caught at slip by Jim Allenby. One run later Cosker trapped Tom Craddock l.b.w. as, accompanied by a cluster of four close fielders, he continued to extract some assistance from the surface.


Foster then cover drove Helm to bring up the 200 and Essex's first batting point before sweeping Cosker for a further boundary. Lady luck was also on his side as he top-edged Helm over the head of the slips, although there was nothing fortuitous about his next boundary as he swept Cosker to the mid-wicket boundary. He then drilled Cosker over extra cover for three to complete a 93-ball fifty.


Foster celebrated by hoisting Helm over wide long-on for six before launching Allenby over extra cover and to long-leg for fours off successive balls as he continued to farm the strike and then took his side into the lead with a lofted drive over cover before securing the fifty stand with a reverse sweep against Cosker for two. This prompted the return of Hogan as soon as the new ball became available, with Essex on 248/8. Foster then despatched Hogan for two to mid-wicket to secure another batting point before scything him over extra cover to secure another boundary.


Wallace then nearly held onto an inside edge as Foster miscued a drive against Hogan but next ball the keeper held onto a top-edge from Foster as he miscued a pull with the total on 261 and departed for 86. Tom Moore then clattered Wagg to mid-wicket for six and four before using the long handle to clobber Hogan to long-off for three but Wagg then bowled in the 88^th over as Essex ended on 280 and a lead of 36.


This left Glamorgan with six overs to face, but with the floodlights on and starting to take over from the natural light, the umpires deemed that it was too gloomy after a couple of balls from Tom Moore to Tom Lancefield.