Brilliant Bopara seals victory

Ravi Bopara's century handed Essex what seemed to be an unlikely victory © Getty Images

Ravi Bopara struck an unbeaten century to guide Essex to a remarkable four-wicket victory over Glamorgan with four balls to spare on the last day at Swansea.

Set 323 from 78 overs Essex celebrated their second LV County Championship Division Two win with Bopara finishing on 147 from 217 balls, with 14 fours.

Bopara came in at six for one in the third over, after Varun Chopra registered a pair, and shared in a 169-run partnership with Mark Pettini from 46 overs which really laid the foundations for the 17-point success.

Having struck a career-best 159 against Glamorgan at Cardiff last year, Bopara looked in determined mood in a bid to register his first century of the season.

Using the leg-side to good effect, Bopara reached three figures from 153 balls with 13 fours in three hours and 12 minutes.

Glamorgan had hoped the pitch would continue to turn but despite Robert Croft and Dean Cosker getting through 47 overs between them the wicket noticeably deadened as the fourth day continued.

Mark Pettini played an excellent innings of his own for Essex

Glamorgan did make inroads into the Essex innings. In the second over after tea Pettini was caught at slip off Dean Cosker, who also dismissed Tim Phillips.

Two direct hits from Croft and Cosker ran out James Foster, who shared in a 62-run partnership with Bopara in 10 overs, and Ryan ten Doeschate respectively.

It was left to Bopara and James Middlebrook to knock off the remaining 39 required which they did in measured fashion as Glamorgan, who had been favourites to register their first win going into the fourth morning, began to look rather shell-shocked.

Hoping for a tally of 20 points Glamorgan had to settle instead for just six.

At the start of the final day Glamorgan batted on for another 65 minutes adding 62 runs in 15.5 overs to their overnight total of 112 for three.

But Glamorgan had hoped for quicker runs in the circumstances which in the final analysis could have been the difference between winning and losing.

Danish Kaneria bagged another scalp - bowling David Hemp to take his match haul to nine, and his season's tally to 37.

Middlebrook also nipped in to trap Mark Wallace leg before to leave Glamorgan 136 for five before Michael Powell, who went to his fourth championship half-century from 113 balls, and Alex Wharf - 22 off 20 balls - added 38 before Hemp called it a day.