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“There’s definitely a difference in this surface,” says Sri Lanka’s ODI captain

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Jul-2025Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka thinks there may be more for seam bowlers in the Khettarama track than usual. He also thinks there may be more for batters.Having been left behind in ODI cricket – failing to even qualify for the Champions Trophy earlier this year – Sri Lanka are desperate to advance again. One of the ways in which the current leadership think they can close that gap is to match home pitches more closely to the behaviour of pitches found across the world.The pitch at Khettarama, for instance, has been extremely spin friendly for years. But ODI captain Asalanka suggested ahead of the match that this Khettarama pitch might be different. Sri Lanka had won their previous series, against Champions Trophy semi-finalists Australia, 2-0.Related

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“There’s definitely a difference in this surface,” he said “Even if it’s helfpul to spinners, even in the previous series against Australia, we saw that it would seam, and the fast bowlers got wickets. Asitha Fernando got five in two matches. I think this pitch will be a bit more batting friendly than usual”Sri Lanka’s seam-bowling stocks are unusually full. Asalanka suggested they would trial seam-bowling allrounder Milan Rathnayake in this series, but they also have the likes of Asitha, Dilshan Madushanka, and Eshan Malinga in the squad.This is also the first match Sri Lanka play under the new ODI playing conditions, under which one of the two balls used until the 34th over is then chosen by the fielding team to be used for the last 16. Ostensibly, this is an attempt to bring reverse swing back into the ODI game, which may suit the like sof Asitha, who has frequently reverse-swung the ball in Test cricket.”We’re also new to that rule, so we are still formulating our plans,” Asalanka said about the new playing condition. “It must be to favour fast bowlers that they brought this new rule to use one ball after 34 overs. It’s possible that we will have to treat two balls in two different ways before we decide which one we will use after the 34th. We’re hoping to land on the right plan from the first match.”Although Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy, they have won enough ODI matches (now an infrequently-played format), to rise to fourth on the rankings. Asalanka thinks that is not enough, though.”We can’t be satisfied yet. I’ve said before that our main goal is to be in the top three. Right now we’re only in the top four. We’ve got one more rung to climb on that ladder, and then we have to think about where we go from there. We are confident about our past performances, but we think we have a long way to go forward.”

Things weren’t looking so great for Chelsea just a couple of weeks ago.

Enzo Maresca’s side were coming off their third loss on the bounce, and there was some frustration among the fans.

However, thanks to an incredible performance against Liverpool and a last-minute goal from Estevao, things at Stamford Bridge are starting to look up.

The Brazilian wonderkid is the man of the moment after that goal, and that, combined with some of his other exciting cameos, all point towards him being a first-team star come the end of the season.

Chelsea look like they’ve struck gold with the former Palmires gem, but had they been able to keep hold of another sensational talent who left for nothing, they’d have two Estevao-level prospects in the squad today.

The youth stars that got away for Chelsea

Cobham is a powerhouse of an academy, and one that has served Chelsea well over the years, whether by producing players for the first team or ones to be sold for big profit.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

However, as with all big clubs, the Blues have also lost several youngsters who went on to be superstars, sometimes due to poor decisions and sometimes through no fault of their own.

Two players that unfortunately fall into the former category are, of course, Declan Rice and Michael Olise.

The Englishman was famously part of the academy side that featured Mason Mount. He was released in 2013 at the age of 14, joined West Ham United, and then moved to Arsenal in 2023, where he could potentially win the league.

Olise, on the other hand, left the club in 2016 in what was reportedly a “mutual decision,” and has since gone on to star for Reading, Crystal Palace, and now Bayern Munich.

A former Cobham gem who left despite the club’s best efforts was Jamal Musiala.

The German international joined the club’s academy system from Southampton in 2011 but moved to Bayern Munich in July 2019, which netted the West Londoners just £180k.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, something similar happened again last September for a player who could end up being as good as Estevao.

The homegrown Estevao Chelsea lost

Unfortunately, the homegrown Estevao Chelsea lost for nothing is none other than Liverpool’s latest wonderkid, Rio Ngumoha.

The 17-year-old joined the Reds’ academy set-up from the West Londoners in September of last year.

Unlike with Rice and Olise, for example, the club made every effort to keep him in the capital, but it just wasn’t enough, and he made his way to the North West for nothing.

However, while the Blues have not yet received anything for the youngster, they will eventually be paid; it’s just that, at the moment, the amount has not been decided upon by a tribunal.

Whatever it ends up being, though, the club would likely prefer the youngster, as he’s already looking like a homegrown Estevao.

Liverpool U18s

10

3

Chelsea U18s

9

2

Liverpool U21s

9

2

Liverpool first team

6

1

Liverpool youth league

6

1

For example, in the game against Newcastle United, he came off the bench late on to score a last-minute winner that would have had a similar impact on the fans as the Brazilian’s did last weekend.

Moreover, the “phenomenal talent” as dubbed by his former youth coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, is looked upon as one of the game’s future stars.

According to one analyst, he is “one of the best young wingers in Europe”. At the same time, Ben Mattinson has praised him for being a “technical dribbler with an explosive burst of acceleration,” which makes him “dangerous in 1v1s” and sounds a lot like the Blues’ new young superstar.

Ultimately, it is still early in both their careers, so it’s hard to be completely sure how they will fare going forward. However, as things stand, it looks like Ngumoha could be a genuine rival to Estevao in the coming years.

Value has risen by 228%: Chelsea star looks like "Lampard, Drogba & Hazard"

The world-class Chelsea star could become a legend under Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 9, 2025

Tom Latham scored a debut century as Warwickshire reached 364 for four against Surrey on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Edgbaston.New Zealand batter Latham struck an unbeaten 139 (244 balls) after Surrey chose to bowl on another belter of a batting pitch at Edgbaston. Rob Yates scored 86 (151) against the champions’ much-changed team with Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson having departed on England duty.Surrey are also without Dan Worrall whom they decided to spare the hard labour on a pitch which appears so good for batting that the best chance of victory lies in a fourth day run-chase. Warwickshire, meanwhile, are without young seamer Michael Booth who will be sidelined for two to three months by a stress fracture of the fibula. Barbados-born Che Simmons has come into the team for his home championship debut.Against a Surrey attack including debutant Nathan Smith. Warwickshire started serenely in the Second City sunshine as Yates and Alex Davies (45, 58) gathered an untroubled 70 in 19 overs. Davies twice hoisted Jordan Clark for six over the short Hollies Stand boundary but departed in angst after swinging and missing at a full toss from Dan Lawrence.Yates and Latham added 112 before the former departed in a different type of angst to this captain. With a century beckoning, he tickled an unthreatening leg-side delivery from Tom Lawes to the wicketkeeper.A Latham century looked likely from the moment he took guard. He moved sweetly into the 40s, took a breather and spent 35 balls there, then pulled Clark for six to reach his half-century and galloped from 50 to 80 in another 18 balls. It was batting of simple, solid, unhurried class.Surrey’s rejigged bowling attack, with Smith on his debut and Lawes and Cameron Steel each playing their first game of the season, persevered nobly. Sam Hain flicked Clark straight to backward square leg and Lawrence bowled Beau Webster with a beauty through the gate.But Ed Barnard (38, 63) joined the implacable Latham to add an unbroken 83 in the last 24 overs of the day. Latham reached his 27th first class century from 161 balls to emulate his countryman Jeetan Patel in making a ton on his Warwickshire debut. Whether Latham matches Patel’s subsequent haul of 742 wickets for the club remains to be seen, but he has immediately provided the top order ballast they badly need.It was a gruelling day in the field for Surrey but they will expect similar plunder from their batters, including Jason Roy who will be looking to make it back-to-back championship centuries spanning six years eight months, having scored 128 against Essex at The Oval in his last Championship game, in September 2018.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras vai a campo com novidades, neste domingo (16), diante do Internacional, pela 15ª rodada do Brasileirão. Sem Dudu e Rony, que ficaram em São Paulo tratando dores, Abel Ferreira escalou um ataque diferente para jogo das 18h30. Oportunidade para Jhon Jhon e Flaco López entre os 11 iniciais. Além disso, o clube colocou ponto final da Lei do Silêncio.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasSem Dudu e Rony, Palmeiras pode ter ataque inédito diante do InternacionalPalmeiras16/07/2023PalmeirasRelacionado por Abel, Kevin já tem gol pelo profissional do Palmeiras e é bicampeão da CopinhaPalmeiras16/07/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras reencontra Luiz Adriano pela primeira vez desde a passagem do atacante pelo VerdãoPalmeiras16/07/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Em relação ao time que enfrentou o São Paulo na quinta-feira (13), algumas mudanças foram realizadas pela comissão técnica. Mayke, suspenso, deu lugar a Marcos Rocha. Já Luan vai para o banco de reservas e Murilo retoma a vaga entre os titulares. No meio-campo quem volta é Gabriel Menino, com Richard Ríos sendo opção.

No ataque, porém, é que acontecem as mudanças significativas. Dudu relatou dores na panturrilha direita e Rony relatou dores no tornozelo esquerdo, ambos nem viajaram para Porto Alegre (RS). Em seus lugares entram Artur, que não podia jogar na Copa do Brasil, e Jhon Jhon, que é um meia e deve jogar pelo lado. Já Endrick volta para o banco de reservas e Flaco López ganha chance na referência do setor ofensivo.

continua após a publicidade

+ Relacionado por Abel, Kevin já tem gol pelo profissional e é bicampeão da Copinha

A escalação do Palmeiras ficou assim: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Artur, Jhon Jhon e Flaco López.

No banco de reservas as opções são: Marcelo Lomba, Vanderlan, Endrick, Luan, Breno Lopes, Richard Ríos, Jailson, Luis Guilherme, Garcia, Naves, Fabinho e Naves.

continua após a publicidade

Já o Internacional entra em campo com: John; Bustos, Mercado, Vitão e Renê; Rômulo, Carlos de Pena, Aránguiz e Alan Patrick; Wanderson e Enner Valencia.

+ Internacional x Palmeiras: onde assistir, escalações e desfalques do jogo pelo Brasileirão

ACABOU A LEI DO SILÊNCIO

Implementada antes do jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, contra o São Paulo, no Morumbi, a Lei do Silêncio parece ter acabado no Palmeiras. A medida foi tomada pela presidente Leila Pereira e pela direção do clube depois do empate em 2 a 2 com o Athletico-PR, no Brasileirão. O auxiliar de Abel Ferreira, João Martins, fez críticas à arbitragem e aos responsáveis pelo futebol brasileiro durante sua entrevista coletiva, já que o treinador estava suspenso. A conversa com a imprensa foi interrompida antes de terminar pelo diretor Anderson Barros.

A assessoria do Verdão informou que neste domingo (16), após o jogo contra o Internacional, Abel voltará a falar com os jornalistas. O clube, porém, não disse se a liberação vale também para os jogadores. O técnico português não fala desde o dia 29 de junho, quando derrotou o Bolívar-BOL, pela última rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores.

AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan was once a top target for Chelsea in the summer transfer window, and they could now try again in January, with the Frenchman making his Rossoneri exit stance crystal clear behind-the-scenes.

The France international, who’s widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in world football, held talks to join Chelsea before the Club World Cup, but the west Londoners only wanted to pay around £12 million for his signature (Ben Jacobs).

Chelsea’s summer transfers (permanent only)

Incoming

Outgoing

Joao Pedro

Noni Madueke

Jamie Gittens

João Félix

Jorrel Hato

Djordje Petrovic

Liam Delap

Lesley Ugochukwu

Dario Essugo

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Mamadou Sarr

Renato Veiga

Estevao

Armando Broja

Kendry Paez

Carney Chukwuemeka

Alejandro Garnacho

Mathis Amougou

Basir Humphreys

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcus Bettinelli

Christopher Nkunku

Nicolas Jackson (obligation to buy in 2026)

Alfie Gilchrist

Lucas Bergstrom

Ben Chilwell

Milan were demanding closer to £25 million, so despite Maignan’s eagerness to join Enzo Maresca’s side, as widely reported, the deal hit a roadblock and ultimately couldn’t be done before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Maresca personally wanted Chelsea to sign a new goalkeeper and centre-back during the summer (Simon Phillips), but the Italian ultimately didn’t get his wish, even if they were exploring opportunities until late in the window.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a keeper points towards a lack of faith in current number one Robert Sanchez, and while the latter has impressed them a lot more lately, Maresca is believed to be unhappy with his options in that area of the park (Simon Phillips).

With Gianluigi Donnarumma joining Man City, Maignan is coming back into the frame as a top goalkeeping target for 2026, with his current Milan contract due to expire next summer.

Mike Maignan's stance on leaving AC Milan with Chelsea "ready" to move in January

According to journalist Graeme Bailey for TBR Football, Chelsea are “ready” to move for Maignan in January and sign him on a pre-contract ahead of next season.

Les Bleus’ number one has also postponed all new contract talks with Milan, which is a clear indicator that he’s set his sights on leaving the San Siro next year, and Chelsea could be set to benefit from the proven keeper’s arrival.

While Sanchez has kept two clean sheets in his first three Premier League games, there is little denying Maignan would be an upgrade, as explained by Liverpool’s Alisson.

Arsenal were denied a penalty in their 2-1 win at Newcastle as Viktor Gyokeres was brought down by goalkeeper Nick Pope, with VAR controversially advising to overturn the on-field decision. Former referee Mark Halsey says the penalty should have stood, likening the decision to an infamous William Saliba incident last season. Fans are now questioning consistency in Premier League officiating.

Getty Images SportArsenal denied penalty after surprise VAR call

In the 14th minute at St James’ Park, Arsenal striker Gyokeres latched onto a slack back-pass and was taken down by goalkeeper Pope while through on goal. Referee Jarred Gillett initially awarded a penalty, but VAR intervened after replays suggested Pope touched the ball first before hauling the striker to the floor. The decision was overturned, with the spot kick denied despite protests from the Gunners.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFormer PL ref believes Arsenal should've had the penalty

Former Premier League referee Halsey argued the on-field penalty decision was correct. He explained in his piece with , "Gyokeres' penalty should not have been overturned. Newcastle goalkeeper Pope got a touch on the ball but he did not win the ball. The touch does not negate the award of a penalty. Why did VAR get involved? It was not a clear and obvious error from referee Jarred Gillett. 

"The on-field decision should have stood. Gyokeres played it on to Pope, that is how he got the touch and then there is a late challenge and brings him down. How many times do you see a foul given for a player that wins the ball and follows through? The touch does not mean it is not a penalty. VAR should not have got involved."

Getty Images SportOrdeal likened with Salibs incident from last season

Halsey also highlighted the inconsistency in Premier League refereeing, adding, "We saw this last season at Brighton when William Saliba was adjudged to have committed a foul on Joao Pedro after he headed the ball. This situation is exactly the same – clear and obvious, the on-field decision should have stood."

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Arsenal managed to fight back for the win

Arsenal came out on top despite the controversial moment, as they put on a spectacular late comeback after Mikel Merino brought the Gunners level in the 84th minute before Gabriel Magalhaes scored the winner in the 96th minute of the game. However, fans and pundits alike will continue to scrutinise refereeing decisions, especially in tight matches against top-six rivals.

Voll, 21, is set to make her ODI debut against India as an opener while Healy is hopeful of returning for the NZ series

Alex Malcolm23-Nov-2024

Georgia Voll has been called into her maiden Australia squad•Getty Images

Alyssa Healy has been ruled out Australia’s upcoming women’s ODI series against India with 21-year-old Georgia Voll called up to her first international squad following some stunning domestic form.Healy will miss the three-match home ODI series against India that starts on December 5 in Brisbane due to a knee injury and her availability for the following series against New Zealand in New Zealand remains unknown.Voll has been added to Australia’s 13-player squad for the India series only. Tahlia McGrath will captain the team in Healy’s absence as she did at the end of the T20 World Cup.Related

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Voll has produced three eye-catching domestic innings so far this summer. She made 98 off 94 for Queensland against Western Australia in the WNCL before plundering 92 off 55 and 97 not out off 56 in two WBBL innings recently for Sydney Thunder. The powerful right-hander looks set to be given a chance to open the batting alongside Phoebe Litchfield as Australia looks to add some youth into their experienced line-up.”Georgia Voll has had a strong start to the summer and has shown her potential over several years,” Australia women’s national selector Shawn Flegler said.”She’ll form an exciting partnership with Phoebe Litchfield at the top of the order in what will be a great opportunity for her to get a taste of international cricket against a strong India side.”Alyssa Healy remains sidelined by a knee injury•AFP/Getty Images

Flegler added that a decision on Healy’s fitness for the New Zealand series, which begins in Wellington on December 19, will be made in due course.”The decision for Alyssa Healy to miss the India series was made with a longer-term view to the Ashes, with her availability for the New Zealand series to become clearer over the next few weeks,” Flegler said.”Tahlia McGrath impressed as captain in tough conditions during the World Cup and will have strong support from Ash Gardner who has developed into a strong leader within the side, both on and off the field.”Australia have included both Sophie Molineux and Darcie Brown despite both players carrying issues in the WBBL.”Sophie has returned to play following knee soreness which will continue to be managed over the course of the summer,” Australian women’s physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said.”Darcie has resumed training following a hip muscle strain and is on track for both series.”CA confirmed that fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck has undergone shoulder surgery following her injury in the T20 World Cup and will not be available for the remainder of the summer.Australia squad for women’s ODIs against India and New ZealandAlyssa Healy (*New Zealand series only), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll (*India series only), Georgia Wareham

Whilst reinforcements continue to arrive, Chelsea could now lose one of their most promising players amid reports that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Jorrel Hato "very excited" to be at Chelsea

The latest to arrive at Stamford Bridge is Jorrel Hato. The former Ajax defender has been on the Blues’ radar for some time and has now finally completed a move worth around £35.5m. Becoming the 49th player to arrive since Todd Boehly’s takeover of the London club, Chelsea have once again spent big this summer.

Speaking for the first time after putting pen to paper, the 19-year-old said: “I’m very excited, I’m so happy to be here. I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I’m very happy.”

He then went on to say: “I was really thinking about my future and this is what I wanted. I think I will be a good fit for the way Chelsea are playing, so I was sure about taking my step to Chelsea.

Thiago Silva repeat: Chelsea in the mix to sign a "world class" £35m star

As Chelsea continue to search for new signings, the Blues are ‘in the mix’ to sign a “world class” £34m star who would be their next Thiago Silva.

ByBen Gray Aug 4, 2025

“For sure it was a big decision. I played seven years at Ajax and for me it was home – the people, the players, the coaches, the culture. So it was not easy to leave, but my feeling was that at this moment I needed to make a step to the biggest club in the biggest competitions, and for me this was the right decision at the right time.”

As one impressive young player arrives, however, another could be set to depart. As ever, the Chelsea dressing room has become busier this summer and that has left one player questioning his immediate future.

Tyrique George "wants to leave" Chelsea

According to Fabrizio Romano, Tyrique George now “wants to leave” Chelsea amid interest from RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach, who could even land a permanent deal for his signature this summer.

George’s exit would certainly split opinion whilst Chelsea continue to sign reinforcements from elsewhere around European football. As talents continue to arrive, it’s worth pointing out that their own academy prospects could be the ones to miss out.

Enzo Maresca is also well aware of the talent that he has on his hands in George. The Chelsea boss, full of praise for the 19-year-old winger following his display against Manchester United, told reporters last season: “Very good. Very good. Brave. He was a threat in behind. Not easy for him because on the other side you have Maguire, you have Lindelof, you have Shaw.

“He was fighting against important defenders. But again, we tried to find a solution with a player from the academy. Overall I think also he had the penalty moment, so he works quite good.”

Celtic hit the jackpot last summer when they broke their transfer record to sign Belgium international central midfielder Arne Engels from Augsburg for £11m.

The 21-year-old midfield star scored ten goals and provided 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, which shows that he hit the ground running in his first year at the club.

Engels offered a consistent threat from midfield with his ability to score and assist goals for the Hoops, as he did not need any time to adjust to Scottish football.

The 21-year-old midfielder also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve further in the coming years at Celtic, which means that he could get even better and grow in value if he continues to shine on the pitch for Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic eyeing goalscoring midfielder

The Premiership champions are now reportedly looking at another central midfielder who provides a big threat at the top end of the pitch to bolster their squad.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to the Daily Star, as relayed by the Daily Record, Rodgers wants to bring former Burnley midfield star Josh Brownhill to Parkhead this summer.

The English whiz has confirmed that he has moved on from Turf Moor, despite their promotion to the Premier League, after his contract expired at the end of last month.

This latest report suggests that Celtic are in the race to snap him up on a free transfer, but they will face competition from Premier League side West Ham United.

It may now be down to Rodgers, who is keen to sign the midfielder, to convince Browning to reject a move to the London Stadium in the coming days.

Why Brownhill may be the next Engels for Celtic

Whilst he would not be a club-record signing or an exciting young talent like Engels was when the Belgian arrived last summer, the former Burnley man could make a similar impact on the pitch in the short term.

Like the former Augsburg dynamo, Brownhill is an attack-minded central midfielder who has the potential to provide the team with plenty of goals and assists.

The 29-year-old ace was once hailed as a potential “superstar” by former boss Lee Johnson, and that is exactly what he could be in Scotland if he carries his Championship form over to the Premiership.

Appearances

42

34

Goals

18

9

Goals per game

0.4

0.3

Big chances created

8

11

Assists

6

6

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

0.8

Ground duel success rate

46%

49%

As you can see in the table above, Brownhill scored twice as may league goals as Engels, whilst racking up as many assists, in the 2024/25 campaign.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to be the first midfielder to score 18 goals since Matt O’Riley managed it in the Premiership in the 2023/24 season, before his £25m move to Brighton.

Brownhill, who also delivered seven goals and eight assists in the 2022/23 Championship season, is a midfielder who looks to be a difference-maker for his side with goals and assists from the middle of the park, which is why he could be an Engels repeat for the Hoops.

The Belgian star hit the ground running to score and assist goals on a regular basis from midfield last term, and the English ace could follow in his footsteps, possibly offering even more of a threat in front of goal, if the club can strike a deal with him.

Better than Balikwisha: Celtic have long-term interest in £7m winger

Celtic have a long-term interest in a forward who would be an even better signing than Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

ByDan Emery Jul 28, 2025

Michael Pepper added a maiden first-class century to two hundreds in this season’s T20 Blast to put Essex in command of their Vitality County Championship match against Worcestershire.The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had only passed fifty once before this summer, and his previous highest red-ball score of 92 came three years ago at Durham, but his unbeaten 125-ball 112 turned the tide in Essex’s favour as they seek to end a run of three games without a win.Pepper was joined at 227 for 7 by Shane Snater (53) and the pair put on 136 in 26 runs to not only overhaul Worcestershire’s 266 but lay the foundations for a 138-run first-innings lead. Tom Westley had set the ball rolling with 68 from 126 balls before he became the first of Amar Virdi’s three wickets for 126 in a marathon 37.4-over spell. Ethan Brookes also picked up three wickets before Worcestershire reduced the deficit by two runs without loss in five overs in the evening.Before the game was effectively taken away from them, Brookes had been an unlikely terminator of Essex’s serene second-wicket partnership that had put on 65 in 13 overs after the loss of Dean Elgar to the last ball of day one. Brookes had never taken a first-class wicket before he broke Robin Das’s middle-stump with a bit of extra pace followed by a jubilant running leap into the air.The 23-year-old seamer did not have long to wait for his second as Jordan Cox, released by England the day before to play for Essex, showed the first real attacking intent in his uncharacteristically obdurate 21-ball innings when he drove uppishly to short midwicket.Brett D’Oliveira brought himself on for an over before lunch and with his third ball had Matt Critchley lunging forward before being rapped fatally on his front pad.Westley settled into an innings that mixed abandon with caution before reaching his fifty from 95 balls. Early on he hit three fours in an over from Tom Taylor, two off his legs through midwicket and the third driven crisply through extra cover. Yet he managed only two more boundaries in reaching his fourth half-century of the season.The Essex captain had put on 55 with Paul Walter when he received a delivery from Virdi that jumped up and caught the edge of his bat before ending in Gareth Roderick’s gloves. Six balls later, Walter’s forceful knock was over when he slashed Logan van Beek to slip the ball after chipping him over extra cover for his fifth four.Brookes returned for a cameo in which he strangled Simon Harmer down legside to claim a third wicket in only his seventh over of the innings. The majority of the heavy lifting was done by the loaned-in pair Virdi and van Beek, who bowled nearly 60 of the 107.4 overs Essex faced.Essex overtook Worcestershire’s first-innings 266 soon after the new-ball had been taken and shortly before Pepper and Shane Snater chalked up their first fifty partnership in 12 overs – 22 runs coming in the first three overs of the new Kookaburra – their second fifty spanning a further 11 overs. At one point they needed just six overs to move from 300 to 350 as the tempo increased.Pepper is renown for his 360-degree game and outrageous shots in the short form, but his most audacious effort was when he chopped Joe Leach over slip’s head to the third-man boundary. The majority of his runs were orthodox shots, mainly between extra cover and cover points. Snater went past fifty from 73 balls with successive fours off van Beek but fell next ball when beaten for pace. Sam Cook batted freely before Virdi got one past his defences.Pepper scampered a two off Brookes to reach three-figures from 116 balls and celebrated with a further 10 runs from the next three balls, including a six high over midwicket. Jamie Porter hung around long enough to see the centurion over the line before he was Virdi’s third victim.