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MICHAEL Powell recorded his highest score of the season as Glamorgan escaped with a draw in their LV County Championship clash with Essex at Cardiff.

Glamorgan went into the final day staring defeat full in the face but partnerships of 68 between David Hemp and Powell, who ended unbeaten on 86 after four-and-a-half hours, and another 90 involving Powell and Jamie Dalrymple helped to prevent a fourth consecutive defeat.

Essex did make inroads but Glamorgan reached 269 for six - a lead of 25 - when visiting captain Mark Pettini called it a day with five overs remaining.

In the end Essex had to settle for 11 points, while Glamorgan took seven.

The home side had resumed their second innings on 35 for one still 209 in arrears and having been skittled for 132 in their first innings they were outsiders to save the game.

But on a slow pitch Essex's seam attack lacked the necessary penetration and Danish Kaneria was far from the handful he had been in the first innings when he had taken five for 22 in only nine overs.

Glamorgan began the day on 35 for one and they had added only 16 runs when Richard Grant had his off-stump pegged back after missing a straight one from the nagging David Masters.

Nightwatchman Dean Cosker followed up his five for 81 with a useful vigil with the bat which lasted 80 minutes until he was caught behind off Ryan ten Doeschate leaving Glamorgan 77 for three.

But Hemp and Powell weathered the storm and Glamorgan reached 113 for three.

Hemp went to his half-century - his fifth of the championship season - from 90 balls with seven fours, but was dismissed for 61 when he decided to leave a straight ball from Maurice Chambers. Powell was then dropped by Jason Gallian at slip for 42 but made the most of his let-off by going to 50 from 120 balls with only four fours.

But after Glamorgan reached tea at 208 for four they suffered a setback when Dalrymple, who batted exactly two hours for his 35, was bowled by Ravi Bopara nine short of wiping out the deficit.

Two overs later Glamorgan were in credit but then they lost a sixth wicket when Mark Wallace was trapped leg before by Graham Napier in the first over with the new ball.

Powell and James Harris, who took 32 balls to get off the mark, batted together for 12 overs before the players shook hands.

10:42am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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