GLAMORGAN recorded their first LV=County championship victory of the campaign at the fifth time of asking, after completing the job against Essex.

Despite a spirited effort from visitors’ batsmen, notably Ryan Ten Doeschate, who was unbeaten on 74, Glamorgan gained their first championship win of the season with 30 overs to spare.

After their disappointing first innings performance, many expected Essex to fold quickly, but to their credit they took the game into the final session and if any of the other batsman could have shared a substantial partnership with Ten Doeschate they could have pulled off an unexpected win.

On a pitch which helped the quicker bowlers Glamorgan were without their fourth seamer David Lloyd for all but 4.2 overs of the game, but the others performed admirably, especially Andrew Salter, the young off spinner who was playing his first championship game of the season.

Resuming on 51 for 2 Dan Lawrence and nightwatchman Jamie Porter defied the Glamorgan attack for 57 minutes before Salter had Lawrence caught at midwicket.

Salter then then took a return catch to remove James Foster but Porter faced 93 balls before he was finally bowled by Michael Hogan for 34.

Ten Doeschate then had useful support from their younger brigade, namely Kishen Velani and Callum Taylor, and one can only admire Essex for including one 19 and two 17-year-olds in their championship team for this game.

Velani was unlucky to play on to Hogan before Taylor, who had added 44 with Ten Doeschate edged to first slip.

With Ten Doeschate and Graham Napier at the crease at the tea interval Essex needed 110 more runs and Glamorgan three wickets. But as soon as Hogan and Meschede took the new ball Essex lost their last three wickets for just five runs. After drawing their first four games and winning the fifth, Glamorgan are now well placed at third position in Division Two and unbeaten in all competitions.

Toby Radford, the Glamorgan coach said he was “very pleased with the all round performance, especially today, when we were without David Lloyd, our fourth seamer.”

“Although there was some help for the quicker bowlers, there were times when the pitch became placid and it was hard work. It was also good to see Andrew Salter contribute so well in only his first championship game of the season.”

Paul Grayson, the Essex coach, was less pleased. “I am disappointed overall, especially as the way we collapsed in the first innings, but pleased by the character of the young lads today. If we show the same fight for the rest of the season, we will be alright.”