Danish Kaneria maintained his mastery over Glamorgan to steer Essex to victory by an innings and seven runs at Chelmsford on Saturday.

The Pakistan spinner took 6-76 in the second innings as Essex dismissed the visitors for 183 after resuming on 8-0.

Glamorgan were 190 adrift after the follow-on but a middle-order collapse wasted opener Matthew Elliott's 75.

Robert Croft offered the only other resistance with 42 not out but the Welsh spinner ran out of partners.

Kaneria ended with 13 wickets in the match, while off-spinner James Middlebrook chipped in with 3-76 off 34 overs in the second innings for Essex.

Australian left-hander Elliott and Daniel Cherry put on 52 for Glamorgan's first wicket but when Cherry became the first of Kaneria's victims for 18, the rot set in.

Kaneria is a captain's dream, and with him in the side you will go into every game expecting to win Essex skipper Ronnie Irani

Glamorgan slumped to 109-7 before forcing a brief respite in the carnage as Elliott and Croft ground out a stand of 35.

Kaneria eventually had Elliott caught by Mark Pettini after facing 132 balls but Croft remained steadfast and hung on for another 34 runs with Andrew Davies before his partner departed for 12.

The home side wrapped up the innings in 69.5 overs when Kaneria removed Huw Waters.

Essex skipper Ronnie Irani, who was forced to watch the action from the sidelines because of a sore knee, was full of praise for Kaneria.

"The man is a genius," said Irani. "This was not a pitch that had bowlers licking their lips in anticipation but, with his variation and control, you always expect him to get wickets.

"In short, he is a captain's dream, and with him in the side you will go into every game expecting to win."