Panesar five puts Essex ahead

Monty Panesar recorded his third five-wicket haul of the season as Essex manoeuvred themselves into a winning position against Glamorgan on the second day at Swansea.

Panesar took 5 for 50 to help bowl out Glamorgan for only 161 in reply to Essex's first innings of 286. Only Jim Allenby offered any resistance as Essex put themselves in a useful position, although they struggled to 131 for 5 in their second innings. But Essex went into the third day holding an overall lead of 256.

After Glamorgan had resumed day two on 27 for 1, Graham Napier sparked a dramatic start to the morning taking three wickets in the space of 12 balls. The seam bowler reduced Glamorgan to 36 for 4 within the opening three overs.

With the opening ball of the day he had Jacques Rudolph caught at first slip by Jessie Ryder. And with the fifth and sixth balls of his second over Napier broke through the defences of nightwatchman Andrew Salter and trapped Chris Cooke leg before.

Napier was to take no further part of the day's play, leaving the field with the calf strain, but Glamorgan's fortunes failed to improve, as Panesar, who had bowled unchanged from the Mumbles Road End since the start of play, trapped Murray Goodwin leg before attempting to cut.

And 25 minutes before lunch Panesar struck again to claim his third wicket of the innings with Mark Wallace going to a bat and pad catch to Ryder at backward short leg. It left the home side 104 for 6.

On the stroke of lunch Panesar had a fourth wicket when Graham Wagg was caught at slip by Tom Westley. It left Panesar with figures of 4 for 26 from 20.1 overs as Glamorgan reached the interval at 110 for 7 with only Allenby's 32 showing any resistance.

Five overs after lunch Panesar completed his five-wicket haul having James Harris caught at slip by Westley. Allenby completed his half-century from 121 balls with five fours and a six.

But Glamorgan's innings was wrapped up in the space of two balls from Ryder who had Cosker caught at first slip attempting to cut and then he bowled last man Michael Hogan.

In reply Essex, holding a 125-run lead, lost Nick Browne in the fourth over caught at gulley off Hogan. Hogan struck twice more, first to have Ravi Bopara leg before - his 50th wicket of the season, and that was followed by Westley pulling straight to Goodwin at deep backward square.

After tea Hogan was replaced by Allenby, who had taken five wickets in the first innings. And it was the all-ounder who broke through again to have James Foster caught behind following a parry from Cooke at second slip. The wickets kept coming with Hogan having Ryder caught at second slip by Rudolph, who then dropped Greg Smith first ball. At 82 for 5 Essex had an overall lead of 207. And they survived until the close without any further scares.