Essex 100 for 7 (Zain 3-14) trail Glamorgan 505 (Tribe 184, Root 59, Akhter 5-107) by 405 runs

Glamorgan continued their strong start against Essex to put themselves in the driving seat heading into day three of the final game in the Rothesay County Championship.

Zaman Akhter took 5 for 107 as a starring factor in the 157-over long innings but Essex’s reply was reduced to 100 for 7. Zain ul Hassan claimed 3 for 14 to put Glamorgan well on their way to ending the season with back-to-back wins.

Essex are mathematically safe from relegation thanks to their bonus bowling point but Leicestershire’s pending appeal leaves the final points tally uncertain.

Resuming 318 for 3 overnight, Glamorgan showed no hurry with grey skies overhead at the start of play.

The sluggish start meant that a third bonus point would have to be hurried for – even with Glamorgan playing only for position. Colin Ingram bludgeoned a couple of boundaries, pulling Akhter’s short-ball ploy before top-edging the following delivery to compatriot Dean Elgar at fine-leg.

Root’s entrance and Tribe’s stubborn stay allowed the partnership to build but, at 349 for 9 after 110 overs, Glamorgan could add no more than the two batting points picked up.

The century stand inflicted more pain on a revolving door of Essex bowlers, with spin once again taking the most of the burden. Root, fittingly – before retirement – reached a first County Championship half-century since 2024, albeit he hasn’t had too many opportunities since Richard Dawson became head coach 18 months ago.

From 422 for 4 at lunch to 505 all out, Glamorgan did flail towards the back end of the innings; Sam Cook took two wickets in three balls to give Essex something to celebrate after wickets had previously been few and far between.

The effects of five sessions in the field were evident when Elgar, greeted by a guard of honour, and Paul Walter walked out for a final session with little to gain from the day for the visitors. Under fading light, Timm van der Gugten and Raymond Toole found enough movement to make the experience uncomfortable. After being rapped on the pads in two consecutive deliveries, Elgar edged through for the first wicket and Walter’s 18-ball stay for zero shortly followed.

Tom Westley enjoyed taking van der Gugten for three consecutive boundaries when the Glamorgan senior bowler missed his mark, but ul Hassan’s introduction kept the wickets tumbling.

Some stability was found between Simon Harmer, who enjoyed taking Ben Kellaway for 14 in an over, and Matt Critchley, but the latter was trapped leg-before in the final over of the day by Toole who finished the day with 2 for 9 from 10.1 overs.