ESSEX all-rounder Graham Napier believes he and his men had to curb some of their natural instincts to craft a draw from their match against Glamorgan.

“Four-day cricket at Cardiff always seems to see us fighting out the last day. But I curbed some natural instincts and we got home with a draw.

“It was a really good game of cricket over the four days,” he said.

“Glamorgan were on top of us, we then got back into it and although it didn’t work out as the ideal result in terms of points for us, it was an interesting finish.

“It was probably the right result for the game itself.”

Napier and Tim Phillips put on a stout seventh wicket partnership to deny Glamorgan a win in the division two county championship match at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff.

Spinner Dean Cosker claimed five wickets to encourage the Welsh County’s hopes of victory, but Napier and Phillips composed a resolute partnership spanning 64 minutes to deny the home side.

Essex had been set an unlikely 333 for victory from a minimum of 52 overs at a rate of 6.4.

And although openers Billy Godleman and Tom Westley were only parted after they had fashioned a 54 runs stand in 13 overs, the loss of three wickets in 13 balls to the spin duo of Cosker and Robert Croft awakened Glamorgan’s interest in proceedings.

The dismissal of Westley (22) started the collapse when he was caught at slip off Cosker, before Croft struck with his third delivery as Godleman (33) departed lbw.

In the next over Owais Shah drove Cosker straight for six but he was out to the next ball for seven when adjudged leg before to Cosker as Essex slipped to 62 for 3 at tea and the innings continued to falter after play resumed.

But both Napier and Phillips stubbornly refused to fall prey to the Glamorgan bowling attack.

The admirably patient Napier faced 100 deliveries in his hour and half stay at the crease which brought him 22 runs and Phillips vigilant sojourn saw him face 67 balls to reach 18 not out by the time Glamorgan called off the hunt after they had spent 20.5 overs attempting to break the stand.

Napier said: “I had the responsibility of steering the team home when I came in. And it shows the number seven position on the batting line-up is an important role within the team. I haven’t actually batted in that position many times but I managed to hold things together this time whilst in other scenarios, you have to be the batsman that holds things together.

“I haven’t had any fifties or five-wickets hauls but overall, I'm satisfied with my performance.”