Allenby, Walters see Glam recover

Jim Allenby and Stewart Walters cracked half-centuries as Glamorgan frustrated Essex on the opening day at Cardiff. Glamorgan made 231, a relatively impressive score considering Essex had had them 114 for 6.

In reply Essex, who had seven overs to survive before the close, were reduced to 10 for 2. They lost Tom Westley to the fourth ball of the innings, bowled padding up to Michael Hogan who then trapped nightwatchman David Masters leg before.

Walters and Allenby may have been the top scorers but Dean Cosker played his part, batting more than two hours for his 18. For Essex, Masters finished with figures of 5 for 44.

Essex captain James Foster won the toss and initially his decision was backed up by Masters. He struck early to have opener Ben Wright caught at short leg by Ben Foakes leaving Glamorgan 6 for 1 in the fifth over. That became 30 for 2 when Graham Napier struck with his first ball of the match to have Will Bragg caught behind.

But Walters, who had only scored 62 in his previous five innings, launched a recovery along with fellow Australian Marcus North, driving and cutting his way to a 51-ball half-century with six fours. Two overs after reaching the landmark Walters lost North, who was caught in the gully by Tim Phillips off Masters having made eight in 64 minutes.

After lunch Glamorgan stuttered from 104 for 3 to 114 for 6 in the space of only 3.1 overs. The collapse began when Reece Topley bowled Murray Goodwin, and in his next over he had Walters caught on the extra cover boundary for 67. Glamorgan lost their sixth wicket when captain Mark Wallace was bowled by Masters via a pad.

Graham Wagg departed when he was caught behind off Ravi Bopara attempting to cut shortly before a heavy shower forced the players off the field for an early tea with Glamorgan 142 for 7.

But Allenby went to a 77-ball half-century with a cut for four off Bopara - his sixth boundary - and the eighth-wicket pair of Allenby and Cosker frustrated Essex for more than an hour, in the process taking Glamorgan to a batting point.

Glamorgan had reached 213 for 7 when Bopara struck to trap Allenby leg before. Michael Hogan and Cosker were the last to help Masters to his five-wicket haul.