Glamorgan lead Essex by 215 runs at Chelmsford

Just 42 overs had been possible on a truncated opening day, with the home attack getting considerable assistance in the bowler-friendly conditions as Glamorgan lost both openers after sixteen balls. But the watchfulness of Murray Goodwin, who displayed admirable patience and shot selection, then shared an unbroken stand of 96 for the third wicket with Ben Wright who was equally diligent against the moving ball.

The visiting supporters were hoping that the gimlet-eyed master, together with his younger apprentice, could continue their efforts in the less dank conditions this morning, but both were back in the pavilion within forty-five minutes play as Masters continued his almost single-handed dissection of the Glamorgan batting line-up.

The morning began with Goodwin duly reached his half-century by unfurling a booming off-drive against Graham Napier in the second over, before gaining another boundary three balls later as Monty Panesar, fielding at long-leg, failed to stop an orthodox leg-glance. But in his third over of the morning, Masters ended the doughty stand as he trapped Wright leg before with a delivery that sharply jagged back into the batsman.

Chris Cooke announced his arrival by steering Napier through backward point for four but with the total on 131, Masters struck yet again as he claimed his 50th wicket of the Championship campaign as he ended Goodwin's valiant innings as the veteran edged to Owais Shah at first slip. Mark Wallace duly joined Cooke and began by pulling and thick-edging Ravi Bopara as the England all-rounder also gained lateral movement from the green-tinged surface.

After an hour's play, Reece Topley replaced the frugal Masters at the River End and the left-armer was steered to the cover point boundary by Cooke, who then dabbed Bopara to the vacant third man position to bring up the 150 before punching another short ball from Topley through extra cover for four.

Cooke then clipped Bopara through mid-wicket for four before Wallace pulled the all-rounder for six. Another elegant on-drive by Cooke against Topley saw a further boundary being secured before a pull for six by Cooke against Napier brought up the fifty stand and took Glamorgan even closer to their first batting point. Panesar then returned to the attack and was glanced to fine-leg by Cooke en route to a 65-ball half-century reached with successive boundaries against Napier to long-on and backward point.

Wallace duly brought up the 200 with a scorching cover drive against Napier followed by an equally impressive drive against Panesar. Wallace also steered the former England spinner through backward point for four before Cooke dabbed him to third man for three. The flurry of runs leading up to the lunch interval prompted James Foster to recall Masters to the attack.

Resuming after lunch on 220/4, Glamorgan were mindful that the new ball was just eight overs away, so Chris Cooke and Mark Wallace were looking to steadily accumulate. But both departed within twenty minutes of the interval with Ravi Bopara being cover driven by Cooke, before two balls later Wallace had his stumps re-arranged by the all-rounder. 226/5 saw Andrew Salter join Cooke and he immediately began by steering Bopara for four through point, but eight runs later, Panesar trapped Cooke l.b.w. for 67.

Ruaidhri Smith greeted the new ball by upper-cutting Bopara for four over point before swatting him high over the slip cordon for another boundary. The youngster had a moment of good fortune as Jaik Mickleburgh then spilled a chance at second slip before David Masters returned to the fray. But the old campaigner was savagely pulled for four by Smith who then turned his attention to Topley who he despatched through extra cover for another coruscating four.

But with the total on 261 Graham Napier returned to the attack and ended Smith's merry spree as he bowled the teenage all-rounder. John Glover began by leg-glancing Napier for three before twice on-driving Masters for four as Glamorgan made further progress towards the 300-mark. Shortly afterwards, Glover also glanced Masters to fine-leg.

With a thick bank of cloud building up from the west, the floodlights were switched on but with the total on 287, Salter edged Masters into the hands of first slip where Owais Shah after several juggles firmly held the ball. Dean Cosker and Glover then scrambled some singles before Cosker swept Panesar for four as the 300 came up in the 103rd over.

In the penultimate over before tea, Glover unleashed another fine cover drive against Bopara, whilst Cosker added another firm off-drive before being caught at short-leg in what would have been the final over of the session as he propped forward to Panesar. Play duly continued as nine wickets were down with Michael Hogan straight driving the spinner for four. But three overs later Topley bowled Hogan as Glamorgan ended on 322

29 overs were remaining in the day's allocation as Jaik Mickleburgh and Gautham Gambhir opened the batting for the home side facing the new ball attack of Michael Hogan and John Glover. The first boundary duly came in the seventh over as Mickleburgh edged Hogan over the slip cordon but the next boundary, in the following over, was more convincing as he drilled Glover to long-on.

Ruaidhri Smith then replaced Glover at the River End and nearly claimed a wicket in his opening over as Gambhir edged just wide of third slip. The Indian cut Smith in his next over, before Mickleburgh pulled Hogan for four. Glover duly switched to the Hayes Close End but in his fourth over he was despatched through the covers in successive balls by Mickleburgh who then pulled Smith for four before completing a 62-ball fifty.

In the final half-hour, Dean Cosker's left-arm spin was introduced with Hogan also having a second spell at the River End. The tall Australian nearly ended Gambhir's innings as a thick outside edge just evaded the outstretched hands of Chris Cooke at second slip, but next over - and with the total on 95 - the Indian was not so fortunate as he miscued an ambitious drive against Cosker with Andrew Salter safely holding onto the skier at mid-off.

Greg Smith then joined Mickleburgh and saw Essex through to the close without any further alarms.