Cardiff Local Guide A guide to all Things Cardiff
Day One
Essex were frustrated by the weather and Glamorgan’s third-wicket pair as they went in search of a victory at Chelmsford to keep alive their hopes of winning promotion from LV= County Championship division two.
After winning the toss, Essex got off to the best possible start by removing the openers inside three overs but Murray Goodwin and Ben Wright put together an unbroken stand of 96 which helped carry the Welsh county to 103 from 42 overs when play ended prematurely because of rain.
Veteran seamer David Masters was responsible for Glamorgan’s early woes, striking with the third delivery of the match when Gareth Rees shouldered arms and was bowled by a delivery that nipped back sharply.
Then in his next over, Will Bragg miscued to Ravi Bopara with only seven on the board to leave Glamorgan looking in serious trouble, particularly as leading batsman Jim Allenby was being rested ahead of Saturday’s Yorkshire Bank 40 final with Nottinghamshire at Lord’s.
But the experienced Goodwin, now on his 41st year, and 25 year-old Wright were to revive the innings with a determined partnership.
Although they experienced a few anxious moments on a pitch and in conditions that did not make batting an easy task, they gradually gained the initiative.
Early on, a few streaky shots dropped wide of fielders but as they gained the upper hand, the batsmen were helped by bowling that left much to be desired.
Masters was the exception because as usual, he dropped on an immaculate line and length which meant that few risks could be taken against him.
But the rest of his colleagues were guilty of sending down too many wayward deliveries. Too often batsmen were able to let the ball go by without playing a stroke, something which must have left Essex skipper James Foster frustrated.
After a full morning’s session, the clouds gathered during the lunch interval after which only four overs were bowled before rain sent the players scurrying to the pavilion.
At that point, Goodwin and Wright had moved into the 30s and Glamorgan had reached 85 for two after 34 overs.
An early tea was taken but when play did eventually resume at 4pm, only a further eight overs of play were possible before more persistent rain put paid to the day’s play with both batsmen within sight of their respective half-centuries.
Goodwin will resume on 48 while Wright goes into action again with 44 to his name.
Toss and Team News
Essex won the toss and elected to field. Glamorgan rested all-rounders Jim Allenby and Graham Wagg were rested. Essex included England’s Ravi Bopara and Indian opener Gautem Gambhir.
Essex: J Mickleburgh, G Gambhir, R Bopara, O Shah, G Smith, B Foakes, J Foster, G Napier, D Masters, M Panesar, R Topley.
Glamorgan: G Rees, W Bragg, M Goodwin, C Cooke, B Wright, M Wallace, A Salter, R Smith, J Glover, D Cosker, M Hogan.
Match preview
The two teams met earlier in the summer at Cardiff with Essex winning the contest in May at the SWALEC Stadium by five wickets after Ravi Bopara had posted 145 in Essex’s first innings. The England all-rounder also completed a match-winning century the last time Glamorgan visited Chelmsford, in 2011, as Essex recorded a last-day victory against an injury-ravaged Glamorgan attack.
Michael Hogan also took 6/70 in Essex’s first innings during the Championship match at Cardiff in May, and if he repeats this feat with another “five-for”, the Australian – who currently has 95 wickets to his name this season – will become the first Glamorgan bowler since 2003 to take over a hundred wickets in a season in all forms of cricket for the Welsh county.
The Welsh county’s most recent success at Chelmsford came in a quite remarkable contest in 2004, and all after the home side had amassed 642 – the highest-ever total in any first-class game by a side which subsequently lost the contest. In fact, a Glamorgan victory seemed a very distant prospect as they stuttered to 188-5 in reply on the second day and looked in danger of being forced to follow-on.
But thanks to centuries from Matthew Maynard and Robert Croft, plus a career-best 88 from David Harrison, Glamorgan rallied and ended on 587 to concede a first innings lead of just 55. When Essex batted for a second time, they were soon in trouble against the pace attack of Simon Jones and Mick Lewis – the Australian fast bowler who had replaced fellow countryman Michael Kasprowicz who was on international duty. Their fiery bowling helped to dismiss Essex for 165, leaving Glamorgan chasing 221 on the final afternoon.
An excellent 83 from David Hemp guided them home after a mid-innings wobble, with the left-hander sharing a decisive unbroken stand of 70 for the seventh wicket with Croft, before hitting the winning runs with 3.4 overs to spare to give Glamorgan the most unlikely of victories and a place in the record books.
