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Toss and Team news
Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat. They made one change from the side who drew with Leicestershire last week with fit-again Graham Wagg replacing Will Owen.
Essex: J Mickleburgh, T Westley, G Smith, J Ryder, M Pettini, B Foakes, J Foster (capt), M Salisbury, R Topley, T Craddock, T Moore.
Glamorgan: T Lancefield, J Rudolph, W Bragg, B Wright, C Cooke, J Allenby, M Wallace (capt), G Wagg, D Cosker, M Hogan, T Helm.
History
Both of Glamorgan’s last two Championship matches in Essex have ended in draws, with last summer’s contest at Chelmsford being a rain-affected affair, whilst the contest at Castle Park in Colchester in 2012 also ended all-square after some impressive batting for Glamorgan by Jim Allenby and Stewart Walters.
However, Essex were the victors in 2011 at Chelmsford as Ravi Bopara posted a match-winning century against an injury-ravaged Glamorgan attack.
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 had seemed a very remote prospect as they stuttered to 188-5 in reply on the second day and at one stage 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 an 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 unlikeliest of victories and a place in the county record books.
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