Phillips starts Glamorgan decline

Essex look on course to register their first win of the season after forcing Glamorgan to follow-on at Sophia Gardens. Responding to Essex's 638 for 8, Glamorgan only managed 337 all out. Asked to bat again, they were 91 for 4 at the close, needing another 211 to avoid an innings defeat.

Glamorgan had begun the day at 166 for 2 and with Ryan Watkins 24 away from a maiden first-class 100, but he fell 13 runs short of the landmark to Tim Phillips' slow left-arm spin. After Michael Powell was bowled by Darren Gough, Watkins gave a bat-pad catch off Phillips.

No Glamorgan player could dig in. Nicky Peng, Richard Grant and Alex Wharf all got in but failed to register a big score. The only player who looked like he might be able to get the home side out of a hole was Mark Wallace, but he was left stranded on 47 not out as Essex took the last three wickets for one run.

Glamorgan's second innings hangs on Powell, who is 35 not out overnight.