GARETH Rees' superb century proved in vain as rain left Glamorgan having to settle for a point in their Clydesdale Bank40 group C clash against Essex at Chelmsford.

The left-hander scored 101 from 105 deliveries as the Welsh county reached 251 for eight from 38 overs before the first stoppage arrived.

Following a long delay, Essex found themselves with a target of 133 from 15 overs but their bid was cut short when more rain brought about the abandonment with them 53 for two from 6.2 overs.

Earlier Rees had struck eight fours and two sixes before he drove Ravi Bopara to cover just before the weather intervened.

He produced an array of fine strokes as he shared in two substantial partnerships after Glamorgan had been put into bat.

First of all he took part in an opening stand of 64 with skipper Alviro Petersen before the introduction of paceman Chris Wright to end the partnership in the 11th over.

Petersen had collected seven boundaries while contributing 38 from 30 balls before he found the hands of Tim Phillips on the square-leg boundary.

Graham Wagg and Jim Allenby quickly followed him back to the pavilion but Glamorgan were to reassert their authority with the arrival of Stewart Walters.

He helped himself to five fours and one six in making 48 from 46 deliveries in a stand that yielded 93 in 13 overs.

Walters' departure came in unfortunate circumstances.

Rees played a ball back firmly to Ryan ten Doeschate who swooped on it and threw down the stumps as Walters tried to regain his crease after advancing down the pitch.

Chris Cooke provided brief entertainment by hitting a couple of sixes in making 18 from nine balls, Ten Doeschate having him caught by Graham Napier in the deep.

Wright, who claimed the wicket of Rees, emerged as Essex's most successful bowler with three for 38 from seven overs while Bopara picked up two for 53 from his allocation of eight overs. When they replied, Essex did not get off to the best of starts.

Simon Jones had Adam Wheater caught on the boundary in his opening over and in his next he bowled Napier with the total on 17.

That heralded the arrival of Owais Shah who was soon striking the ball with power and confidence.

He struck five boundaries in moving to 25 from 15 balls but then the weather was to have the last word.