ESSEX Eagles suffered a seven wicket defeat at Glamorgan this afternoon. 

Figures of two for 13 from Ruaidhri Smith and Andrew Salter’s two for 31 limited Essex to 153 for six.

But it was a total Glamorgan surpassed with ease thanks Nick Selman’s 65 and 59 from Marnus Labuschagne who continued his fine start to the Blast with a second straight half century. Invited to bat first, Essex openers William Buttleman and Tom Westley had early reprieves.

Buttleman survived a run out scare in the first over while Westley was dropped by Dan Douthwaite at backward point from the bowling of Salter.

Westley fell soon after to Smith, but Buttleman was quickly into his stride and reached an unbeaten 30 from the first powerplay with his team 49 for one.

Michael Pepper struck the first six of the day before Buttleman departed for 36 from 26 balls. Buttleman top edged an attempted sweep off Salter to Selman at deep backward square leg. Spin was Glamorgan’s main weapon and part-time bowler Labuschagne was next into the attack.

He immediately strangled Pepper who was caught down the leg side. Salter cleaned up Paul Walter leaving Essex and New Zealand’s James Neesham – who struck Labuschagne for six – needing to rebuild.

Feroze Khushi also cleared the ropes, but Essex’s boundaries were rare. Neesham struggled to get going too and as he tried to expand, he was caught on the long-off boundary by Glamorgan substitute Callum Taylor for 21. Essex’s total looked below par and it rarely looked like troubling Glamorgan as the Eagles suffered their second defeat in the space of three days after also losing to Hampshire on Friday.