County Championship: Craig Meschede hits 68 off 52 balls

Craig Meschede struck 101 not out for Glamorgan earlier in the season

Craig Meschede smashed 68 from just 52 deliveries as Glamorgan battled hard on a rain-affected second day with Essex.

Jacques Rudolph (82) added one run before he fell to Jamie Porter (2-77), but Meschede and Graham Wagg (47) put on 92 runs for the seventh wicket.

David Masters (3-51) dismissed both batsmen to end the innings on 314.

David Lloyd (2-14) took the wickets of both openers but Ryan ten Doeschate (38 not out) and Callum Taylor (23 not out) reached stumps with the score on 183-4.

The game in Cardiff was interrupted three times by rain but that did not hinder Meschede, who struck seven fours and four sixes in an aggressive innings to take Glamorgan past 300.

Lloyd then bowled with a good line and length to remove Nick Browne (31) and Jaik Mickleburgh (19) but was forced off through injury in his fifth over meaning Kamau Leverock, nephew of Bermuda's 2007 World Cup spinner Dwayne, came on as a substitute fielder.

Glamorgan all-rounder Craig Meschede:

"I feel I'm a better batsman when I am positive and it seemed to pay off today.

"We've got ourselves in a really good position and 300 on that wicket is a winning position to be in.

"Essex batted well to start but I think the pitch is quite inconsistent. We've got to be patient but if we get early wickets the pressure is really going to be on them."