Essex brush Glamorgan aside

Essex took a huge step towards the NatWest Pro40 Second Division title when they crushed Glamorgan by 130 runs at Colchester.

In response to a total of 231 for nine, the Welsh county were bowled out for a paltry 101 in 30.4 overs.

They never recovered from losing openers Robert Croft and David Hemp for ducks as David Masters and Graham Napier struck in their first overs.

They were quickly followed by Tom Maynard, another victim for Napier, with only five on the board and the Essex bowlers strengthened their grip as two more wickets fell before the 50 was raised in the 20th over.

By then Glamorgan only had pride to play for, but at least Jamie Dalrymple fought bravely.

He struck 51 from 83 deliveries and hammered two successive sixes off James Middlebrook before the spinner trapped him lbw with his next delivery.

Mark Pettini struck a fine 70 off just 61 deliveries in Essex's imposing total of 231 for nine at Colchester

Of the other batsmen, only Michael Powell, with 13, and James Harris, who made 11, reached double figures. Napier, Chris Wright, Ravi Bopara and Tim Phillips each picked up two wickets.

Mark Pettini was the Essex batting star as he took full advantage of a life before he had scored, Dean Cosker putting down a difficult catch at cover.

Pettini hit Alex Wharf for two successive sixes and also collected seven fours in making 70 from 61 balls.

Those runs came out of 112 before he offered a simple catch to short fine-leg to provide off-spinner Croft with his only success.

Following Pettini's departure it was left to Grant Flower, hero of Essex’s Friends Provident Trophy triumph, to anchor the innings.

Although he managed just one boundary, he found the gaps consistently to contribute 53 from 71 deliveries.

He was eventually caught behind off Wharf, who, despite the punishment inflicted by Pettini, finished as Glamorgan's most successful bowler with 4-50 from eight overs.

This was Glamorgan's second defeat in the competition but Essex are still unbeaten after six games, one of which ended in a tie.