Thomas and Dale turn tables on Essex

A memorable day for Darren Thomas who recorded his maiden first-class century that assisted his side to a healthy total after they had slumped to 128-6 after winning the toss.

With Adrian Dale, who also reached a century, he put on 163 for the seventh wicket. Dale had already scored 55 when his 26-year-old partner arrived at the crease but Thomas got off the mark with a pull for six and continued his belligerent demolition of the Essex attack who saw their earlier enviable position recede alarmingly thanks to the flailing bat of left-hander Thomas coupled with some wayward bowling.

Dale was the first to reach his century having struck 10 boundaries but with his score on 113, he edged a lifting delivery to keeper Barry Hyam to give the persevering Andrew McGarry his third wicket.

Thomas, having arrived at his half-century from only 40 deliveries, then faced a further 106 balls accumulating his next 50 runs, spending nearly an hour in the nervous nineties before reaching his milestone innings that embraced 14 boundaries including one six.

He was unbeaten on 119 at the close with Glamorgan on 335-7 and in sight of their fourth batting point which had appeared so unlikely earlier in the day.

Mark Ilott had dismissed Stephen James in the second over of the morning and the introduction of McGarry into the attack was rewarded by two wickets in successive overs for the 19 year-old who removed Matthew Maynard and Jimmy Maher.

Michael Powell fell cheaply to Ronnie Irani before Dale and Keith Newell added 51 for the fifth wicket to ease the pressure on the visitors only for left-armer Ilott to strike back with two wickets before Thomas joined Dale to steal the show.