James sets stage for magical Maynard

Glamorgan 370 and 367-4 Essex 193 and 540-7 dec Glamorgan won by six wickets

A wonderful second-wicket partnership of 194 in only 38 overs between Steve James and Matthew Maynard set up a remarkable and much-needed first Championship victory of the season for Glamorgan. For James, whose 156 anchored the chase for the 364 Glamorgan needed, it was a timely return to form after a difficult beginning to the season which saw him undergo a knee operation and then muster just 30 runs from four innings.

If that was not pressure enough, then it is also his first year as captain and his benefit year. He batted quite superbly for his century and gave only a single chance before he was out, a tricky catch to long-off on 124. If Tim Mason had hung on to the ball it might have been an interesting finish, indeed a close one, but he did not and James continued accumulating runs. His third 50, and the one that took Glamorgan to the latter stages of the run chase, did not contain a single boundary. It did not need to, such were the gaps in the field and his ability to locate them with excellent shots. A reflex catch dismissed him, but his job was done as only 14 more were needed.

His was not the main impetus in the innings, though. Maynard strode purposefully to the crease with the score at 84 for 1 and left it having spliced a big hit to long-on for 90, with Glamorgan needing 103 off 25 overs and nothing more than sensible batting to win.

It was a brilliant innings, not necessarily because of the shots played, although many of them were easy on the eye, but because he dominated the crease by his attitude, intent and presence. Very few can do that and although it is not a direct comparison ­ that would be unfair ­ it is worth remembering that they were the exact qualities Viv Richards took to the wicket.

Maynard galvanised and complemented James to such fruitful effect that their 50 partnership came in under 10 overs, the 100 in under 19 and the 150 in 30. They needed to as well, because Essex had declared in the morning leaving them a stiff target of 364 in a minimum of 84 overs. To score this amount of runs in a day is an achievement, but to do it in a last-innings run chase on the fourth day for the loss of only four wickets is exceptional; as, it must be stated, was the pitch. How else would Essex have fought back so valiantly after following on?

Quite simply it was the type of pitch that bowlers' horror stories are made of. It was flat, flat, flat and devoid of pace or bounce. The Essex bowlers did not bowl well, particularly Mark Ilott with the new ball, but even Peter Such struggled and he is a really good off-spinner.

But it still takes good cricket to win, and Glamorgan's was built around the timeless foundations of fine, aggressive running between the wickets, the construction of partnerships and thoughtful shot selection rather than a series of glamorous but high-risk shots.

What Essex needed was a high-class speedster or a high-class wrist-spinner. Wickets like this demand something that special, and considering that most countries desperately want one or both of these, it is no surprise that Essex struggled. Unfortunately Australia have both.