JESSE Ryder’s career-best figures put Essex firmly in control of their County Championship Division Two clash at Chelmsford.

The New Zealander picked up six for 47 in 15 overs as the Welsh county were bowled out for 162, the first time this season they had failed to get a batting point in a completed innings.

Essex added another 78 runs to their first innings lead of 117 before the close on a day when 46 overs were lost through rain or bad light.

In overcast conditions, Ryder used a combination of seam and swing to undermine the visitors’ innings after they had resumed on 40 for three.

Ryder claimed the first five wickets of the innings to fall with only 59 on the board, and at that stage, Glamorgan were in danger of being asked to follow-on to Essex’s total of 279.

However, they steered clear of having to do so largely through the efforts of Colin Ingram, Mark Wallace and David Lloyd.

Ingram adopted a positive approach while gathering 43 from 56 balls with the help of five fours and a six while Wallace’s 21 included five boundaries.

Both were eventually dismissed by paceman David Masters who trapped Wallace leg before wicket before he bowled Ingram for 43 Lloyd hit out boldly while making an unbeaten 20 that included a six and three fours.

Masters finished with three for 53 while Napier picked-up the remaining wicket when Michael Hogan was bowled off his pads to bring Glamorgan’s replay to an end in the 41st over.

With Jaik Mickleburgh suffering from back spasms, Liam Dawson, on-loan from Hampshire, was promoted to open the innings with Nick Browne and the pair never looked in any real trouble as they pressed home Essex’s advantage.

They defied a succession of bowling changes while passing a 50 stand with some fine strokes on either side of the wicket, they put together the highest partnership of the match so far.

They were still together when bad light brought play to an end with the total on 78 without loss. Browne was within eight runs of his half-century while Dawson will resume on 30.