By Ananova
July 24 2002

Essex slumped to a disappointing 231 to leave Glamorgan in a strong position after the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match at Chelmsford. Darren Robinson (48), James Middlebrook (42) and John Stephenson (46) all threatened a big knock, but Essex never recovered from a poor start.

Alex Wharf took three wickets and Glamorgan openers Dean Cosker and Stephen James avoided any late scares to make six runs in reply before close.

After Essex won the toss and elected to bat, Darren Robinson and William Jefferson opened the innings but Wharf cut short their partnership with the total on 16. Jefferson played and missed as a pinpoint yorker clean bowled him for just six.

Three deliveries later, Aftab Habib followed Jefferson back to the pavilion for a duck after Wharf's accuracy forced the batsman into misjudging a defensive stroke that flew to the reliable hands of Matthew Maynard at second slip.

Then Andy Flower (five) became Wharf's third victim of the day when he was trapped lbw without attempting a stroke.

The arrival of captain Irani heralded the beginning of a minor Essex fight-back and he combined well with Robinson to put on an impressive 51-run stand with a series of well-crafted singles and intelligent strokeplay to the boundary.

But a Darren Thomas delivery was good enough to end Robinson's impressive knock as he edged one to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace after notching 48 runs off 81 balls.

Irani followed for 34 after Adrian Dale tempted the England all-rounder to go after a good length ball but he only succeeded in finding Maynard at slip.

James Foster added to their woes as he was cheaply dismissed for four. A fine boundary off Thomas was followed by a poor defensive stroke a ball later that found its way to Cosker at third slip.

Middlebrook and Tim Phillips produced some degree of resistance against the onslaught and forged a 25-run partnership but, after a patient 14, Phillips attempted a square cut off an Owen Parkin short ball that was picked up at point by Cosker.

The Essex revival continued after Middlebrook and Stephenson (46) carved out a valuable 45-run partnership before Dean Croft trapped Middlebrook for 42, Daniel Cherry taking the catch.

The Essex tail continued to wag as Stephenson and Justin Bishop put on a further 44 before Bishop went for 19 hard-earned runs.

The innings was wrapped up when the dangerous Croft tricked Joseph Grant into a mistimed defensive shot that was caught by Cherry at mid-off for 10.