Craddock gives another display of his talent
Tom Craddock took four wickets and Owais Shah and Jaik Mickleburgh weighed in with half-centuries as Essex fought back on the second day against Glamorgan
03-Aug-2011
Tom Craddock took four wickets and Owais Shah and Jaik Mickleburgh weighed in with half-centuries as Essex fought back on the second day of their County Championship match against Glamorgan at Cardiff.
Glamorgan had resumed the second day with their eyes fixed firmly on a total of around 500 but they had not factored in an Essex comeback with the ball. The home side were 313 for 3 and in a seemingly comfortable position, but from 335 for 3 collapsed to 399 all out shortly after lunch.
In reply, Essex, required to score 250 to avoid the follow-on, were 160 for 2 at the close with Shah on 66 and Mickleburgh on 56 after sharing in an unbroken partnership of 111.
Michael Powell was the first to fall for Glamorgan this morning, caught at first slip by Shah off Maurice Chambers, who then forced night watchman Will Owen to retire hurt for 23 when the Glamorgan bowler was struck on the left hand.
Stewart Walters, who scored a hundred against Northamptonshire last week, was dismissed next ball when David Masters trapped him leg before. Mark Wallace was the next to fall when he chipped a Graham Napier delivery to Chambers at mid-on, while Jim Allenby was caught at slip by Shah off the same bowler.
Graham Wagg helped Glamorgan salvage a fourth batting point but was soon adjudged lbw off leg spinner Craddock, who celebrated a wicket with his first ball of the morning. Craddock claimed the final two victims to finish with figures of 4 for 89 from 27.2 overs.
Batting did not seem to get any easier in the Essex reply. Opener Tom Westley went to a superb caught and bowled effort from Graham Wagg before Allenby trapped Billy Godleman lbw for 27 with the visitors slipping to 49 for two. Allenby recorded impressive figures of 8-5-7-1 in the afternoon session.
Shah, who hit Robert Croft for a six in his first over, and Mickleburgh guided Essex to 72 for 2 at tea. Shah survived a very confident caught behind appeal on 49 from Owen before bringing up his fifty with the next delivery. His half-century was scored in 111 balls with five fours and a six.
Mickleburgh was given a life on 44 when he was dropped at deep midwicket by Wagg off Robert Croft. He went to make his half-century from 118 balls.
