Luc Benkenstein propelled Essex to a narrow three-run victory over Glamorgan in the One Day Cup, recording an impressive 140 runs. Despite his standout performance, Timm van der Gugten kept the hosts in contention until the final ball, scoring his first professional century with an unbeaten 118.
Essex reached a total of 312 all out after a strong start. Benkenstein shared a 166-run opening partnership with Noah Thain, who added 76. However, the Essex batting order faltered in the latter half of the innings against Dan Douthwaite, who finished with figures of 3-57.
Glamorgan struggled early in their chase, sinking to 78-5. Alex Horton, who scored 85, paired with Van der Gugten to mount a significant recovery. The duo provided the home crowd with a spirited fightback, but Shane Snater’s 3-49 kept the pressure on the hosts. Entering the final over, Glamorgan required six runs for victory. Mackenzie Jones maintained his composure, conceding only two runs to seal the win for Essex.
