Walters ton hurts Essex
Stewart Walters’ century moved Glamorgan into a dominant position in their LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Essex at Colchester.
The 29-year-old struck 129 not out and rarely played a false stroke against an Essex attack that sorely missed spearhead David Masters, who was absent due to the side strain he sustained against Kent last time out.
The hosts lacked penetration without their senior seamer, and Glamorgan duly eased to 242 for three on a rain-affected opening day.
Stewart Walters struck an outstanding unbeaten century as Glamorgan took control of their County Championship Division Two match against Essex
After the visitors won the toss, Maurice Chambers gained an early breakthrough by having Nick James caught at forward short-leg by Jaik Mickleburgh.
Yet Essex had to wait until after lunch for their next success, with Walters and Will Bragg leading a fine riposte.
Both kept pace with each other via a series of well-timed strokes either side of the wicket, and the former reached his half-century by virtue of a flowing drive through extra-cover off Chambers.
Walters joined his partner by straight driving Charl Willoughby to the fence in the next over, but the duo were eventually separated with the stand on 107.
Graham Napier grabbed the breakthrough as, half-forward, Bragg played on having made an impressive 54.
Walters, however, continued on his impressive way, wasting no opportunity to cut and drive as he moved into three figures with a leg-side boundary off Ryan ten Doeschate.
By then, Marcus North had settled in well, although he was content to watch his compatriot do the bulk of the scoring.
North's contribution to a 103-run stand was just 24, at which point he sliced Napier to Harbhajan Singh in the gully just two deliveries after being dropped low down by the same fielder.
Rain then arrived to save the Essex bowlers from further punishment, leaving Walters to resume his fine innings in the morning.
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