Bragg hundred timely boost for Glamorgam

Glamorgan 260 and 295 for 3 (Bragg 119*, Cooke 59) lead Essex 313 by 242 runs
Scorecard

Will Bragg made his second hundred of the season for Glamorgan has his team built a sizable lead against Essex in Cardiff. Glamorgan closed the day on 295 for 3, an advantage of 242 runs, with the game is nicely poised going into the last day with run scoring a struggle on this pitch; the lead Glamorgan have could well be decisive.

Having picked up the last Essex wicket after a further 13 runs had been added to their overnight total Glamorgan got off to a poor start with the bat when Jacques Rudolph was dismissed for a 12-ball duck, edging a delivery from David Masters through to the keeper with just two runs on the board.

From there it was Glamorgan's day as Bragg put on 107 for the second wicket with Mark Wallace and 106 for the third wicket with Chris Cooke. Wallace was dismissed for 40 when he attempted to drive Ravi Bopara and only succeeded in edging the ball through to James Foster. Cooke completed his second half-century of the match before he was pinned lbw by a fuller ball from David Masters for 59.

Masters was the pick of the Essex bowlers and was the only one who consistently threatened to claim wickets. He gave a particularly torrid time to 19-year-old Aneurin Donald who did well to survive. As it was Donald, the 19-year-old, shared the third significant partnership of the day for Glamorgan with Bragg as the pair put on 80 he was still undefeated at the close on 44.

While all of that was happening Bragg remained undefeated and becalmed, finishing the day on 119. With the troubles that Glamorgan have had all season with their top order under-performing this was a vitally important innings that has gone a long way toward putting the home side in a winning position.

With self-confessed lack of confidence a problem for Glamorgan how they go about setting up a chase for Essex on the final morning will be interesting. They are unlikely to want to give Essex a sniff of a win and may choose to bat on a while longer than they might otherwise. While scoring has never been straight forward on this surface it doesn't appear to be deteriorating rapidly. It could be a fascinating finish on the final day.