COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Swalec Stadium:
CLOSE OF PLAY, FINAL DAY: Match Drawn. Glamorgan 311 and 296, Essex 288 and 181-9 (Glamorgan 10pts, Essex 9pts)

Dean Cosker's first-ever 10-wicket match haul proved to be in vain

Essex climbed up to third in Division Two as they hung on for a potentially crucial draw against promotion rivals Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.

After claiming the final Glamorgan wicket to bowl out their hosts for 296, Essex were set 320 to win.

It rapidly became clear that a draw was the best Essex could hope for as Dean Cosker (5-35) bowled his way to a second five-wicket haul in the match.

But, despite losing four late wickets for three runs, Essex hung on at 181-9.

Essex's nine points from the match move them up to within 12 points of second-placed Northants, who they meet in their next Championship game at Chelmsford, starting on Tuesday (15 September, 1030 BST).

In the tightest promotion race since the County Championship split into two divisions in 2000, only three points separate Essex, in third, from Glamorgan, who stay sixth.

Cosker finished with overall figures of 11-126 - the first time the 31-year-old Dorset-born slow left-armer has ever enjoyed a 10-wicket match haul.

Essex coach Paul Grayson told BBC Essex:

"Nothing changes really, even if we'd lost this game, we're still going to have to beat Northants at Chelmsford this week and go up to Derby and win as well."

"We have to say Glamorgan have outplayed us really, over the four days from the first morning."

"We need to improve for the last two matches."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version