TEAM NEWS
Glamorgan: Asa Tribe, Zain ul Hassan, Kiran Carlson (C), Ben Kellaway, Colin Ingram, Billy Root, Chris Cooke (WK), Dan Douthwaite, Mason Crane, Timm van der Gugten, Raymond Toole.
Essex: Dean Elgar, Paul Walter, Tom Westley (C), Charlie Allison, Matt Critchley, Noah Thain, George Bell (WK), Simon Harmer, Zaman Akhter, Sam Cook, Jack Auld.
MATCH DETAILS
Umpires: Mike Burns & Alex Wharf
Match Referee: Ian Ramage
Scorers: Byron Jones & Paul Parkinson
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first
Result:
DAY ONE REACTION: CHRIS SILVERWOOD
DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS
DAY ONE REPORT
Kiran Carlson and Asa Tribe both scored centuries as Glamorgan assailed in their first innings over Essex in the final game of the Rothesay County Championship.
Essex were made to rue two opportunities handed to them inside 40 minutes of one another. The first, when Tom Westley chose to bowl first thirty minutes before the start of play, and then when Simon Harmer dropped Tribe on zero in the match’s second over. Glamorgan ended the day’s play on 318 for 3 to punish the struggling Essex’s efforts.
Carlson’s 107 is his second-best knock of the season after recording a double-century at Hampshire in May – a 99 also came in last month’s game against Leicestershire. Tribe’s milestone came as a second in as many weeks, reaching three figures in a win over Surrey last week.
Essex would’ve considered themselves all but safe heading into the final four days unless Leicestershire pulled off an upset against title favourites Warwickshire but were allowed breathing space by picking up a bowling point while Leicestershire were confirmed relegated (subject to the result of an appeal over pitch sanction punishment) during the day’s play.
The toss decision would’ve been justified for the Essex side needing a strong start to wrap up confirmation of Division One cricket as quickly as possible. As it was, Harmer’s waist-high drop at second slip to an edge drawn by 17-year-old seamer Jack Auld was the unfortunate foreshadowing of Essex’s day ahead.
While the pitch at Sophia Gardens has frequently brought early excitement for seamers this season, the sun beating down on the centrally located wicket all day only allowed for Tribe and Carlson to dominate.
Zain ul Hassan also made a helpful start, playing controlled, guided shots through deep third and a pleasant straight drive off Zaman Akhter the highlights of his start. Essex would come to be grateful the opener didn’t go on to reach a milestone for himself after being dropped on 19 off Paul Walter’s bowling.
Tribe pounced upon the luck he was handed by learning a lesson outside his off stump instantly. The Jersey international was back to being fluid when bowling strayed too straight and was disciplined on his decision-making outside off-stump.
Carlson was more cautious to begin with, bogged down by Sam Cook who was the pick of the bowlers on consistency.
Following lunch, Glamorgan’s captain picked up his rate showing off his one-day style impulsive flick off the hip and using his feet proactively to the 47 overs of spin bowled in the day.
Essex were evidently flailing from early in the day. Six bowlers were used before lunch, including two spinners inside 30 overs – a sign of the pitch’s condition.
At 230 for 1 at tea, both batters were set and racing to three figures. Carlson won the race with two to deep-square-leg as Cook operated with an innovative field. Tribe followed shortly after, pulling Simon Harmer for four, one ball after Glamorgan secured a first batting point since June.
Carlson’s time enjoying a poor bowling display came to an end when Critchley snuck a short one through the pull-shot attempt with the stand worth 178.
Ben Kellaway was scratchy from ball one and always looked likely to fall cheaply when he was adjudged lbw for Critchley’s grateful second to bring Colin Ingram to the crease, greeted by a guard of honour.
The pair at either end of their career’s saw through the day’s end, claiming a second batting point against the second new ball while Essex’s struggles at least ended with confirmation of safety.
