Glamorgan's Stewart Walters holds up Essex push for win

Stewart Walters fell two short of a century as he helped Glamorgan hold up Essex's push for victory in Cardiff.

Michael Hogan wrapped up Essex's first innings for 345 by removing Graham Napier with the day's third ball to record career-best figures of 6-70.

David Masters (3-84) then bowled Ben Wright second ball and Marcus North for two to help reduce Glamorgan to 74-3.

But Walters, backed by Murray Goodwin (42) and Mark Wallace (61 not out), dug in as they closed 189 ahead on 303-6.

Walters shared stands of 65 for the second wicket with William Bragg (42), 91 for the fourth with Goodwin and 50 for the sixth with Wallace before edging Tim Phillips behind to James Foster for 98.

Glamorgan were 120 ahead at that point, but Graham Wagg (32 not out) batted briskly in an unbroken stand of 69 with Wallace to give the hosts some hope of saving the game on the final day.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Wales' Edward Bevan:

"It's a very interesting position and Glamorgan will hope to extend this lead and then give everything they've got into trying to bowl Essex out for a second time.

"At one stage Essex might have had thoughts of winning the game in three days but the Glamorgan batsmen have fared much better in this second innings and they were far more responsible in their approach.

"Stewart Walters began the fightback, he scarcely played a false shot and deserved a hundred but there was also good support from the other batsmen which is essential.

"Glamorgan at the moment will have an outside chance of victory, something possibly that they hadn't dreamt of at the start of the third day."

Match scorecard