County Championship: Shane Snater puts Essex on top against Glamorgan

Essex dominated the opening day of their County Championship game against Glamorgan as they reached 92-2 in reply to the home side's paltry 134 all out.

Netherlands seamer Shane Snater tore Glamorgan apart with 6-39, backed up by Simon Harmer (3-46).

Dan Douthwaite's 39 was the top score of a ropey home batting display at Sophia Gardens.

Nick Browne made 50 not out and England Test hopeful Dan Lawrence is unbeaten on 29 in the visitors' reply.

It was Snater who took the limelight as he twice took two wickets in an over in the first session, with only Hamish Rutherford (31) lasting any length of time among the top order.

Snater found movement off the pitch under cloudy skies, but Glamorgan's batsmen looked rusty after the gap in fixtures.

Harmer then took advantage of the pressure with his accurate off-spin to reduce Glamorgan to 86-8, before Douthwaite and Lukas Carey (29) hit some vigorous late blows.

Carey then dismissed Alistair Cook for nought and Tom Westley also edged behind off Timm van der Gugten for eight.

But Browne took advantage of being dropped off Michael Hogan on eight to build a patient third-wicket stand in the evening gloom with Lawrence, who is expected to rejoin England and be replaced after two days of the Cardiff game.

Browne reached his fifth half-century of the season off 125 balls as Essex took a firm grip on the game before bad light lopped nine overs off the evening session.

Glamorgan awarded a county cap to batsman Kiran Carlson, 23, who led the side to the One-Day Cup and passed 800 runs for the season.

Essex bowler Shane Snater said:

"It's just nice to be playing again (after a three-week injury absence) and to get some wickets.

"It didn't bother me getting hit for those two fours in my opening over. They were both a bit too straight and it was nice to pick up some wickets after that.

"It was good to be back in red-ball cricket and the ideal situation for us would be to bat long, put pressure on Glamorgan and maybe only have to bat once."

Glamorgan all-rounder Dan Douthwaite told BBC Sport Wales:

"It was a tough day with the bat. Fair play to Essex, and Snater in particular, I thought they bowled really well and that's something we can take inspiration from moving into day two.

"It definitely wasn't a 134 wicket and we are hurting from that. I wasn't feeling my free-flowing self compared to Lukas (Carey), but it's one of those decks where if you get the luck of the draw, you can build a partnership like Lawrence and Browne did.

"In my time away with the Hundred (with Manchester Originals) I enjoyed it though I didn't play as much as I envisaged, so it was a no-brainer to play a second-team game last week to be ready.

"That was key for me but I am not going to put our performance today down to a lack of red-ball preparation. It was a one-off, and we are going to have to claw that back over the next three days."