It took just 68 balls this morning for Essex to end Glamorgan's spirited resistance on the final day of their LV=County Championship match at Swansea as the visitors dismissed the Welsh county for 284 to give them a victory by 63 runs.
After last night's stubborn fightback by Graham Wagg, Glamorgan entered the final day on 237/8, chasing a target of 348 but with just two wickets remaining. The all-rounder had overseen a late rally which, despite the visitors claiming the extra half-hour, had taken the match into the final day. His pugnacious efforts also kept alive a slim hope of victory for the home side with Essex, in contrast, on the brink of a win which will keep alive their hopes of promotion into Division One.
Wagg and Dean Cosker duly resumed their partnership against the gentle seam and swing of Jesse Ryder and the artful spin of Monty Panesar, who had already ten wickets to his name in the contest. Cosker struck the day's first boundary as he clipped Ryder to backward square-leg, but in Panesar's second over he had Wagg snaffled at bat-pad as the all-rounder propped half forward.
Michael Hogan unleashed some booming straight drives, lofting the spinner straight for four and then drilling Ryder through mid-off. After two abortive appeals for l.b.w., Cosker swept Panesar for four before Hogan again drilled Ryder straight for four. Another boundary came as Cosker late cutPanesar before Tom Westley's off-spin replaced Ryder. Hogan then clattered a short and wide ball from Panesar through extra cover before lofting him out of the ground and completely across the Mumbles Road for a massive six.
But next over, Westley caught another fierce drive struck back at him by the Australian as the match ended with Glamorgan 284 all out.