Varun Chopra century leads Essex to resounding victory over Glamorgan

Essex completed a resounding victory with 19 overs to spare at a sunny Sophia Gardens, and if they can replicate this performance throughout the competition, they will provide formidable opposition.

With Alastair Cook back in their ranks to bolster the batting, complemented by an accurate seam attack and Simon Harmer's off spin, Essex are well covered in all departments. It was Varun Chopra who shone in their Royal London Cup opener, scoring 111 off 133 deliveries to put his team on course.

Chopra was eventually bowled by Graham Wagg, but he was well supported by Tom Westley (69) and Cook (40) and Dan Lawrence chimed in with a handy half-century.

Glamorgan offered little, and after winning only one game in the competition last year, need to improve greatly on their latest performance if they are not to suffer another dismal season. Apart from Michael Hogan and Wagg, their bowling lacked discipline and control, while their batting lacked application, with five batsmen attempting expansive strokes and edging to the wicketkeeper.

After Essex had posted 326 for 7, Glamorgan needed to score at six and a half runs an over but were soon in trouble, as Charlie Hemphrey wafted outside the off stump to Jamie Porter's third ball.

Marnus Labuschagne then played a similar shot to Sam Cook and when Cook bowled Craig Meschede through the gate, Glamorgan were 28 for 3, with the Essex attack in control.

The home team needed a substantial partnership, and although David Lloyd and Billy Root threatened, they were both dismissed in the space of five balls in Peter Siddle's second over. The Australian seamer, bowling an accurate line outside the off stump, induced two edges which carried to Robbie White, the Essex wicketkeeper on loan from Middlesex.

The procession continued as Kiran Carlson was caught by Cook of the bowling of Ravi Bopara, and when Wagg was run out by Ryan ten Doeschate from mid-on while attempting an ambitious single, the home team had collapsed to 82 for 7.

Chris Cooke slapped a short ball from Bopara to Harmer at cover and, after a breezy knock, Marchant de Lange became Bopara's third victim, caught by ten Doeschate, and the Glamorgan innings quickly folded.