Michael Powell struck his highest score of the season as Glamorgan batted throughout the fourth day at the Swalec Stadium to earn a draw against Essex.

Powell was unbeaten on 86 after a four-and-a-half hour stay at the crease as he helped deny Essex victory.

He put on stands of 68 with David Hemp (61) and 90 with Jamie Dalrymple (35) to help frustrate the visitors.

Glamorgan stay bottom of Division Two, while promotion-chasing Essex lie third behind Warwickshire and Middlesex.

The home side resumed on 35-1 and had only added 16 runs when Richard Grant lost his off stump to David Masters.

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But Hemp and Powell began Glamorgan's recovery from 77-3 and Hemp brought up his 50 from 90 balls, before he left a straight ball from Maurice Chambers and was bowled.

Powell was crucially dropped at slip by Jason Gallian for 42 and he and Dalrymple took Glamorgan towards safety until Dalrymple was cleaned up by Ravi Bopara.

After Mark Wallace was out Powell and James Harris, who took 32 balls to get off the mark, batted together for 12 overs before the players shook hands and Glamorgan had avoided defeat.