Ronnie Irani maintained his season's fine form to lead Essex to the respectability of 223-6 from 107 overs against Glamorgan on a Cardiff pitch where every run had to be chiselled out.

It was so lacking in pace that it became something of an achievement to get the ball off the square. Seldom can Irani have worked harder to score a half-century.

The Essex skipper needed nearly two and a half hours and 116 balls to reach that landmark and by the close had progressed to 69.

It was a superb effort and once again confirmed that the extra burden of captaincy served only to make him a more difficult foe.

This was the fifth time in his last seven Championship innings that he has passed 50 and on the other occasions he entered the 40s before he was dismissed.

Such consistency explains why he is the county's leading run-maker with 444 at an average of just under 56.

Certainly Essex were grateful to his steely determination on such a pitch.

Only rarely did the ball lift disconcertingly off length, mostly in the opening half dozen overs when Paul Grayson and Darren Robinson were respectively removed by Steve Watkin and Darren Thomas.

The greatest danger posed to the batsmen was the delivery which kept low, but Paul Prichard and Stephen Peters got their heads down to steer clear of further trouble before lunch, which arrived with 80 on the board from 36 overs.

Prichard's contribution was 35, which included a pulled six against Watkin when the ball sat up invitingly, but he was to lose Peters soon afterwards.

Peters had resisted for 39 overs whilst scoring as many runs when he was bowled pushing forward against Watkin with the total on 90.

Prichard's defences were finally breached in the 56th over with the total on 129.

The opener's share was 59, which spanned 161 balls, when he was deceived in the flight and bowled by left-arm spinner Dean Cosker.

That brought in Ian Flannagan to his first Championship appearance of the season, an opportunity provided by the absence of Stuart Law.

The Australian was still feeling the effects of a back spasm which kept him out of the National League duel between the two counties a couple of days earlier.

Unfortunately, it id not prove a innings to remember for Flannagan, as a mere six runs from 48 deliveries testified. The youngster was undone by medium paceman Keith Newell with a ball which kept low.

He was followed back to the pavilion by Barry Hyam, who needed just over an hour to collect his half-dozen runs.

He also departed lbw, this time Alex Wharf being the successful bowler, but Irani soldiered on with increasing assurance and occasional aggression.

He opened his shoulders to reach his half-century with a six over mid-wicket at the expense of Wharf, but generally was content to adopt a cautious approach and ensure that he lived to fight another day.

It was a mission he succeeded in and this morning he was due to continue a vigil which has so far lasted nearly four hours and 187 balls.

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