Danish Kaneria once again proved the key to Essex's success with the ball as the Pakistan spinner took seven wickets to keep his side on top at Chelmsford.

Glamorgan resumed on 141-1 and made achingly slow progress - typified by Huw Waters' 33 off a mammoth 265 balls.

Matt Elliott fell on 95 and Mike Powell hit 64, while a stand of 71 for the last wicket proved invaluable.

Kaneria (7-105) eventually saw them off for 394 and, following on, Glamorgan reaching 8-0 by stumps - 182 behind.

The leg-spinner's return came off a mammoth 47.4 overs, his variation of flight and pace proving his main weapons on a pitch that gave him a little more help as the innings progressed.

Somewhat surprisingly, it was Waters who was to offer most resistance against the wiles of Kaneria.

The 20-year-old, who started his innings shortly before the close on the opening day, went on to defy Kaneria and six other bowlers for just under five hours, before he offered a catch to James Foster behind the stumps off Kaneria.

And the visitors will be hoping for something similar on the final day, though Alex Wharf and Andrew Davies' partnership of 71 in 16 overs for the 10th wicket could yet prove crucial.