Northeast knock anchors Glamorgan win over Essex

Sam Northeast was playing his first match in more than a month after injury

Glamorgan 283 (48.4 overs): Northeast 89; Snater 3-45, Richards 3-68

Essex 251 (46.4 overs): Westley 51; McIlroy 3-33, Douthwaite 3-41, Morris 3-52

Glamorgan (2 pts) won by 32 runs

Glamorgan claimed their fifth successive win as Sam Northeast’s 89 proved the key innings at Chelmsford.

He steered the visitors to 283 while Essex were eventually bowled out for 251 despite 51 from Tom Westley and some remarkable tail-end hitting.

Ben Morris claimed 3-52 in his first senior appearance of the season, with Jamie McIlroy and Dan Douthwaite also taking three.

Essex have just one win from four, while Glamorgan have one foot in the knockout stages.

Essex replaced the injured Charlie Allison and the unavailable Matt Critchley with Nick Browne and Aaron Beard, while Glamorgan brought in Northeast, Asa Tribe and Morris for Colin Ingram, Timm van der Gugten (rested), and Ben Kellaway, a late injury withdrawal.

A testing opening spell from Shane Snater (3-45) on a lively track brought him the wicket of Zimbabwean school-mate Eddie Byrom.

Will Smale (42) and Kiran Carlson added 54 before Jamal Richards (3-68) dismissed both, forcing Glamorgan to work hard for their runs through the middle overs.

Northeast anchored the innings in stands of 74 with Billy Root, run out for 35, and 71 with Asa Tribe, who made a promising 26 in his second appearance.

Northeast’s intelligent knock came off 93 balls while Dan Douthwaite clubbed a quick 34, but could not get enough of the strike in a late clatter of wickets as Essex stayed in the game, wicket-keeper Simon Fernandez taking five catches.

The home side lost three quick wickets for 21 to top-edged pull shots inside eight overs as Jamie McIlroy and Douthwaite started well, leaving Essex a mountain to climb with much on the shoulders of Wesley.

Luc Benkenstein, with 39 off 41 balls, gave them some momentum but he fell to Andy Gorvin, and Morris claimed the vital wicket of Westley as he drove to cover, the ball after reaching his half-century.

But from 141-7, Essex refused to lie down as Snater (23) and Richards (27) hit hard before McIlroy snared both, the first to a fine catch from young substitute Tom Norton.

Ben Allison (26) and Aaron Beard (42 not out) shared a last-wicket stand of 68 which at first looked like a late consolation, then developed into a serious threat before Douthwaite returned to seal the result.

Kellaway and Eddie Byrom, who limped off during the Essex innings, will both have leg injuries assessed.

Glamorgan’s Sam Northeast told BBC Sport Wales:

“The guys set it up nicely and though we would have liked to get it done a bit quicker, we’re on a roll.

“It was a new-ball wicket with bounce and seam movement, we took early wickets but if you got through that you could put a score on the board.

“It has been frustrating being out, but it was nice to get out there and continue the form from last time I had a hit, and to contribute to a productive month so far.”