Varun Chopra century helps Essex sink Glamorgan

Sophia Gardens: Essex 326-7, Glamorgan 146 - Essex won by 180 runs

Scorecard

Essex completed a resounding victory with 19 overs to spare at a sunny Sophia Gardens, and if they can replicate this performance throughout the competition, they will provide formidable opposition. 

With Sir Alastair Cook back in their ranks to bolster the batting, complemented by an accurate seam attack and Simon Harmer’s off spin, they are well covered in all departments. 

Glamorgan offered little and, after winning only one game in the competition last year, need to improve greatly on this performance if they are not to suffer another dismal season. Apart from Scott Hogan and Graham Wagg their bowling lacked discipline and control, while their batting lacked application, with five batsmen attempting expansive strokes and edging to the wicketkeeper.

After Essex had posted 326 for 7, Glamorgan needed to score at six-and-a-half runs per over but were soon in trouble, as Charlie Hemphrey wafted outside the off stump to Jamie Porter’s third ball.  

Marnus Labuschagne then played a similar shot to Sam Cook and when Cook bowled Craig Meschede through the gate, Glamorgan were 28 for 3, with the Essex attack in control. 

The home team needed a substantial partnership, and although David Lloyd and Billy Root threatened, they were both dismissed in the space of five balls in Peter Siddle’s second over. The Australian seamer, bowling an accurate line outside the off stump, induced two edges which carried to Robbie White, the Essex wicketkeeper on loan from Middlesex. 

The procession continued as Kiran Carlson became White’s sixth victim, and when Wagg was run out, attempting an ambitious single to Ryan ten Doeschate at mid-on, the home team had subsided to 82 for 7. Chris Cooke was dropped by Robbie White, but it mattered little, as the captain slapped a short ball from Ravi Bopara to cover. Apart from a breezy knock from Marchant de Langle, the innings and Glamorgan quickly folded. 

VISIT THE COUNTY HUB: Your one-stop shop for English domestic cricket

Earlier, Essex had been given first use of a good pitch, with Cook the dominant partner in an opening partnership of 67, before Cook, with seven well struck boundaries, was held at backward point. The Glamorgan opening attack did well to restrict Cook and Varun Chopra to 44 in the powerplay, but De Lange was then collared by the second-wicket pair, as the South African struggled to settle into any sort of rhythm. 

Chopra struck only four fours in his first fifty, and seven in all, but he kept the scoreboard ticking over with some audacious running between the wickets, and with Westley also in good form, the second wicket pair put on 116  in 20 overs before Westley (69) pulled a short ball from Lukas Carey to midwicket.

De Lange, who had earlier misjudged a chance at long on was then punished for some wayward bowling and his final figures of 1-81 in eight overs reflected his disappointing performance. Chopra reached a splendid century before he was deceived by Wagg’s slower ball, and after Dan Lawrence went for an enterprising 56 the remaining batsmen were kept in check by Wagg. 

Alternating between slower balls and yorkers, Wagg and Hogan restricted Essex to 36 in the last five overs, yet Essex would have been satisfied with their total at halfway, and mighty pleased come the close.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network