ESSEX ended day two of their County Championship match with Glamorgan 40 runs ahead as big scores from Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara edged them ahead.

The away side had just secured their third batting point of the match before bad light stopped play with Essex 300-9, with Ryan ten Doeschate (43 not out) and Jamie Porter (four not out) at the crease.

Essex resumed on 29-1, with Jaik Mickleburgh and Westley in the middle, and it was the latter who was to go on and make another big score.

Westley, who hit boundaries with the first two balls of his innings, scored 80 in another final display, with Mickleburgh falling to the bowling of Tim van der Gugten for 33 (off 93 deliveries).

In came Bopara and two players in confident form took Essex to 163 before Westley was claimed by Michael Hogan, edging behind to end the 93 run partnership between the two.

It was the seventh time in 11 first-class innings that the 27-year-old had surpassed 50 this summer but before long Essex were another man down.

Dan Lawrence hit a four and a six in a brief spell at the crease (13) before he was dismissed LBW as tea approached.

Essex were 208-6 at tea, but the visitors lost some quick wickets after the break. Bopara reached 80 before he was dismissed off the bowling of Hogan and Jesse Ryder departed in the next over, having slogged 17 from 62 balls.

James Foster came in to partner captain ten Doeschate with Essex looking to steady the ship but Foster’s innings lasted just 15 minutes.

The wicket-keeper scored nine before he was given out LBW off the bowling of van der Gugten, while Graham Napier, who had taken 5-82 with the ball, was dismissed in the same manner for five.

David Masters went for five with ten Doeschate running out of partners.

But Porter saw them through to the close.