Cameron White’s second century of the tournament delivered victory and a bonus point to Victoria in their Matador Cup match against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2016
ScorecardPeter Siddle picked up 1 for 19 in his first match since February•Getty ImagesCameron White’s second century of the tournament delivered victory and a bonus point to Victoria in their Matador Cup match against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval. White finished unbeaten on 117 as the Bushrangers chased down the target of 211 with eight wickets in hand, inside 35 overs, to continue their strong one-day form.Earlier, Peter Siddle had made an encouraging return from long-term injury in his first competitive match since February, collecting 1 for 19 from eight overs as the Tigers were restricted to 7 for 210. Siddle bowled opener Tim Paine in the third over of the match as Paine offered no shot to a ball that moved back in, and Glenn Maxwell picked up two early wickets to have Tasmania 3 for 17.Alex Doolan rebuilt the innings with an unbeaten 87 from 82 deliveries, with assistance from allrounder Simon Milenko (44), and a late 34 not out from Xavier Doherty. However, the target was always going to be difficult for the Tasmania bowlers to defend, and a 122-run opening stand between White and Marcus Harris made it even more so.Harris fell for 64 and Maxwell for 22, but they were the only two wickets to fall in the Victorian innings as White directed the chase perfectly. He struck five sixes and 12 fours and jumped ahead of Moises Henriques to lead the overall tournament run tally.

Trevor Hohns has been named as Australia’s interim chairman of selectors, while Greg Chappell will serve on the panel temporarily following Rod Marsh’s departure

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Nov-20163:48

Coverdale: Search for long-term selectors important

Greg Chappell will join Australia’s national selection panel and Trevor Hohns will serve as chairman, after the departure of Rod Marsh from the role on Wednesday. Both appointments have been made on an interim basis only, following an extraordinary meeting of the Cricket Australia board on Wednesday night.Hohns has served on the national selection panel since 2014 in his current tenure, but previously sat on the panel from 1993 to 2006, including 10 years as chairman. Initially, he had continued in his role as Queensland’s state talent manager while also serving on the national panel, but will now relinquish that job to focus full-time on selection duties.Chappell has had two previous stints as a national selector, first from 1984 to 1988, shortly after his retirement as a player, and again from 2010 to 2011, before he took up the role of Cricket Australia’s national talent manager. Chappell will step aside from that position while he serves as an interim national selector.”It is vital that Australian cricket finds the best candidate for this role,” Cricket Australia’s chairman David Peever said. “Trevor is highly experienced as a selector, and will ensure we place our best players on the field this summer while we seek a permanent replacement for Rod.”Greg has been instrumental in restructuring our youth pathway program, driving the National Performance Squad, the introduction of a CA XI squad in the domestic one-day cup and creating clear pathways for talented youth in Australian cricket to aspire to wear the baggy green. His in-depth knowledge of up-and-coming talent in the Australian system will be invaluable.”The board will now begin a search for permanent national selectors, with no deadline having been set. Marsh’s tenure was originally to have ended in June next year.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are open to cashing in on Ruben Neves this summer should their £50m price tag be met, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Ruben Neves leaving Wolves?

The Premier League veteran has made 253 appearances at Molineux since arriving back in 2017 and has even become club captain, but with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, Julen Lopetegui will be provided with his final big opportunity to cash in during the upcoming window.

The Old Gold midfielder has been his side’s second best-performing overall, defensive and offensive player this season with a WhoScored match rating of 6.95 so he won’t be short of potential suitors, and having publicly admitted that he wants to join a more high-profile team to achieve his dream of competing in the Champions League, an exit could be on the cards.

The Portuguese international has primarily been attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona in recent months, and if the following update is to be believed, it would appear that the former have ramped up their pursuit in the hope of reaching an agreement.

Are Liverpool signing Neves?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have “asked to be kept informed” of Neves’ situation at Wolves who are “likely to cash in” if their £50m price tag is met. The Midlands skipper has already “made up his mind to quit” and said “farewell” to supporters during the club’s final home lap of honour. The Anfield outfit “continue to have a strong interest” in the 26-year-old and are expected to “keep tabs” on any developments that occur ahead of the 2023/24 term.

Should Wolves keep or sell Neves?

Whilst Wolves will be tempted to sell Neves should a big-money offer arrive, Lopetegui will know how much of an integral member of the squad he is having been dubbed a “beast” by former USA international Jimmy Conrad, so the boss needs to do everything he can to retain the services of his captain beyond the summer.

The World Cup participant is extremely strong in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game, ranking in the 99th percentile for clearances and recording 79 tackles since the start of the term which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The Wanderers talisman, who is capable of playing at centre-back and slightly higher up in central midfield outside of his usual role, can also be a threat in the final third with seven top-flight goal contributions this season, so for someone who can positively impact the game at both ends of the pitch, it’s a no-brainer for the club to try and keep hold of their most prized asset.

Glenn Maxwell has been fined by Australia’s team leadership group for his criticism of Matthew Wade

Daniel Brettig03-Dec-2016

Australia’s captain Steven Smith has criticised Glenn Maxwell and the team leadership group have fined him an undisclosed amount for comments deemed disrespectful to the team’s gloveman and Victoria captain Matthew Wade.In what Smith clearly hoped would be the end of an unseemly episode that began when ESPNcricinfo reported Maxwell had tried to leave the Bushrangers for New South Wales outside the approved window to do so, he explained that he had told Maxwell and the team as a whole that more respect had to be shown for each other. Smith also declined to confirm whether Maxwell would be playing on Sunday, stating only that he was “available for selection”.”Everyone was disappointed in his comments, I’ve expressed that to him myself and spoke to the team,” Smith said on Saturday ahead of the first Chappell-Hadlee ODI. “One of our values is respect, having respect for your team-mates, your opposition, your fans, your media.”I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a team-mate and his Victorian captain. The leadership group got together and we decided to fine Glenn, we thought that was sufficient punishment, so we’ve gone down that path. I was disappointed with the comments that he made.”Maxwell had stated that it was “painful” batting behind Wade in the Victorian Shield batting order, among sundry other comments about his uncertain role in the state team and his ambitions to return to the Test team. “Wadey was pretty disappointed as well like all the other players,” Smith said. “I talk about a respect for your team-mates and particularly the captain of your state, and he was disappointed.”[Maxwell] was a little bit shattered with what he said. I don’t think he thought the words came out the way they actually did, but we’ve moved on from that now, we’ve fined him and expressed our disappointment, but moving on and trying to focus on this game tomorrow.”Smith is believed to have been one of the players Maxwell canvassed about moving to NSW during the limited-overs leg of the Sri Lanka tour earlier in the year, but he was not interested in re-opening the discussion on Saturday. “I’m not really concerned with that right now,” Smith said. “It’s about getting through this season, and if things happen like that at the end of the season we’ll deal with that then.”Maxwell’s sanction did not meet with universal approval. Notably he was supported in his words by Mitchell Johnson, who has been a critic of punitive action against players since he was one of the four players suspended from a Test match in India three years ago – something the coach Darren Lehmann also criticised at the time.Turning his attention to New Zealand, Smith said the combination of cagey experience and pace-filled youth in the visitors’ bowling line-up would have to be watched closely. “They’ve got some quality players in their line-up, a lot of the time they bat around Kane Williamson, he’s the glue in their middle order,” he said.”They’ve got some dangerous players up top in Guptill or Latham if he plays up top. They’ve got some experience in their bowling line-up in Southee and Boult and some pace in this young fella I’ve heard about, Ferguson. They’re a quality team and we’re going to have to be at our best.”One figure Smith is eager to command once more is the fast man Pat Cummins, making his latest return to the team amid a string of injuries. “He bowled pretty quick in the nets yesterday, he bowled beautifully in the Matador Cup at the start of the season, and he’s got that x-factor about him,” Smith said. “He bowls with great pace and good aggression and I think he’ll complement the other quicks really well and hopefully have an impact in this series.”

Leeds United, before they can get started on securing a new manager, surely have to sort out what's happening with their ownership.

What's the latest on Carlos Corberan to Leeds?

Despite the report in yesterday's edition of The Daily Mirror linking the Whites with a move for Carlos Corberan, it remains to be seen who would make such a decision as chairman Andrea Radrizzani continues to be linked with an exit.

However, on Wednesday the Italian released a long statement regarding his takeover of Sampdoria, in which journalist Phil Hay surmised that "This doesn't sound much like 'goodbye'".

As such, the notion that the Yorkshire outfit are 'sounding out' West Bromwich Albion's manager is likely one that has come from their current chairman, especially one seeking to find his next Marcelo Bielsa to return them to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Although the 40-year-old did sign a new deal in January to ward off such interest, the report notes that they are searching for a release clause that might allow them to bypass the Baggies and begin talks straight away.

Could Carlos Corberan emulate Marcelo Bielsa?

Whilst it is easy to compare Corberan with Bielsa, given their 'master and the apprentice' dynamic during their time at Elland Road, there is far more to link the two than merely a shared club.

Since venturing into management, the former Huddersfield Town boss has earned a reputation as one of the Championship's most exciting young bosses, with his 4-2-3-1 philosophy borrowing largely from the 67-year-old with some key tweaks.

The Spaniard opts for slightly more defensive security but retains similar pressing structures that allow his team to dominate the ball. As such, this season the Midlands outfit have maintained 54.1% of the ball on average, and conceded just 37 times under his 33-game stewardship.

Also, their demeanour draws further comparisons, with Bielsa having been branded 'El Loco' for his crazed response to a gang of 20 ultras showing up at his house. Whilst not quite on that same level, former Thorp Arch academy graduate Romario Vieira offered an insight into a similar footballing know-how that shows there is plenty of method to Corberan's madness.

He told The Athletic in 2021:

"When he told us how he wanted us to play, we thought he was crazy. Then it clicked and we were like, ‘This guy’s a genius’. He knew how games would go. In a training situation, in passage of play, he’d tell you, ‘Don’t look for this pass before you play it. Just play it’. You’d say, ‘What if it goes to no one?’, but you’d do it anyway and sure enough, someone would be there waiting for the ball. He had it all in his head. He’ll go on to big things, I’m sure of it."

To compound these similarities, both Corberan and Bielsa have showcased a keen interest in the tactical philosophy of Pep Guardiola, which again can be seen in their respective game plans.

Whilst the Manchester City manager has suggested that the latter was "the best coach in the world", the former instead idolises the ex-Barcelona midfielder, seeking to heed his advice at any opportunity, even studying his assistant Juanma Lillo to gain further insight.

Having taken the Terriers to the most unlikely of playoff finals in 2022, and turned around a relegation-threatened West Brom to take them within three points of the playoff spots this term, surely Corberan would be the perfect man to take the mantle of his former master in Yorkshire and guide them back to the top flight.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Victor Osimhen this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Victor Osimhen's future?

According to Italian news outlet Il Mattino, Manchester United have an advantage in the battle to sign the Napoli striker this summer.

As per the report, the Red Devils will need to meet a mammoth €160m (£139m) price tag in order to secure the services of Osimhen in the upcoming transfer window, but are considered the front-runners due to negotiations attempted last year when they offered Cristiano Ronaldo as an asset to the Serie A giants.

What could Osimhen offer to Man United?

It is no secret that Erik ten Hag will make filling the striker role this summer his highest priority, with the club unable to replace Ronaldo since his shock exit at the end of last year.

Ronaldo's departure has presented an opportunity for the Red Devils to find their centre-forward of the future who can offer consistent goal contributions to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy to name a few who became greats in the position at Old Trafford.

As a result, the signing of Osimhen would be a major coup for the Red Devils as the 24-year-old can offer consistent goal contributions and become the focal point in the team for years to come.

Over 35 appearances, the Nigerian striker has scored 28 goals and tallied up five assists – with a goal contribution every 82 minutes played, which would be a huge asset to Man United if he could keep up his form in the Premier League.

Osimhen has deservedly earned high praise for his outstanding form in Italy this season, with even Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, weighing in on the striker's impact in Napoli’s Scudetto win:

"The real deal, or idán gangan as younger folks may describe him; Victor has continued the fine tradition of Nigeria’s footballing excellence on the global stage. We are all proud of him and wish him well in what is already a remarkable career.”

The thought, therefore, of Ten Hag's men lining up with the attacker next to Bruno Fernandes is a mouth-watering one.

Indeed, it would give the Man United midfielder a high-quality teammate who can consistently convert the chances he delivers into the box.

Nobody in the Premier League has created more chances this season than Fernandes who boasts 103 creations to his name at a stunning rate of 3.1 per game.

That would be a tantalising prospect for anyone in the game, let alone someone of Osimhen's pedigree, with Roy Keane having claimed in the past that Fernandes' vision is phenomenal.

"His quality of his balls into the box – if you’re a striker it’s a dream, you make some runs and he picks you out," he noted.

With that being said, if the Man United hierarchy could secure the signature of Osimhen this summer, it could spark a huge improvement in the attacking threat going into next season.

South Africa’s ODI captain AB de Villiers will sit out the one-off match against Ireland on September 25 as he completes his recovery from an elbow injury

Firdose Moonda22-Sep-2016South Africa’s ODI captain AB de Villiers will sit out the one-off match against Ireland on September 25 to allow himself more time to recover from the elbow injury that kept him out of the New Zealand Tests. Faf du Plessis will captain the team in his absence while Rilee Rossouw, who has recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the triangular series in the Caribbean in June, was added to the squad as batting cover.De Villiers’ participation in the first ODI of the five-match series against Australia, which follows the Ireland game, hinges on a fitness test which he will undergo early next week. Should he fail that test, not only will he be ruled out of the remaining matches in that series, but he will have to undergo surgery which will keep him out action for six to eight weeks and force him to miss South Africa’s Test tour of Australia.”AB has an impingement syndrome, so when he plays certain cricket shots, he gets excruciating pain in the left elbow. Sometimes, it does settle with a conservative approach, but unfortunately, in AB’s case it hasn’t been so,” Mohammad Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, said. “We are giving him another week, and thereafter a call will be made. He needs to pass the fitness test, the elbow needs up to stand up to the rigours of international cricket. If he does not come through the fitness test, a date for surgery will be set. We don’t want to pre-empt that, we want to give him every opportunity to try and recover from that injury. But if he has surgery, he will be out of the Test series.”When asked whether de Villiers’ injury was a result of overuse, Moosajee conceded that the cluttered cricket calendar may have had something to do with the problem. “We refer to it as overload, whether that’s doing too much and playing different shots, or related to overuse. The fact that there have been some other tournaments like the IPL has added to the load, but we need to understand that having played more than 10 years of international cricket, there are going to be challenges where you will have some sort of injury.”As a consequence, Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, who blamed the schedule for player fatigue after South Africa failed to reach the final of the Caribbean triangular series in June, was forced to reiterate the impact of mushrooming T20 leagues on the national side. “When I said so after the West Indies tour, I took a beating from a lot of people in public and the media, but I am saying again, there’s no doubt guys are playing too many games, too many formats and too many competitions,” Domingo said. “And at the end of the day, we, as a national side, sit with issues because we are sort of keeping guys fit to go and play in other tournaments, which sometime can be a bit painful for me.”De Villiers is not South Africa’s only major absence. Morne Morkel also missed the New Zealand Tests with a back problem and has not been included in the ODI squad at all, while Hashim Amla will not play the Ireland game and may not be available for the first ODI against Australia as he awaits the birth of this third child. Temba Bavuma, one of South Africa’s three new caps, will open the batting in Amla’s place, as South Africa look to groom him for that role in future.”Temba has got really good attributes for an opening batter. He is really good in terms of his technique. He is a guy that can bat for long periods of time, he can hit the bad ball for four,” Domingo said. “Maybe, at this stage in his one-day career, he is probably not suited coming in at 5 or 6 and trying to hit fours and sixes at the back end. This allows him a nice start in international one-day cricket because he can just pay normally. If he hits a good cricket shot in the first five or six overs, it will go for four, whereas if he hits a good cricket shot in the last ten overs, it might go for one. It’s a nice spot for him to try and find a niche in one-day cricket. I am very excited to see what he can offer.”Bavuma, allrounder Dwaine Pretorius, and bowler Andile Phelukwayo are all looking to make their debuts against Ireland, with only Phelukwayo being retained for the Australia matches.

Manchester United bidders INEOS, who are fronted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are 'cautiously optimistic' over their chances of sealing a deal to take over at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are said to be the 'leading candidate' to assume control of Manchester United from the Glazer family.

The report states that Ratcliffe wants to buy a majority controlling stake in the Premier League giants that would leave Joel and Avram Glazer in minority stakeholding positions and INEOS remain the preferred option despite a new offer from rival bidder Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Former Manchester United icon Gary Neville has spoken about his frustration surrounding the ownership debacle on Twitter, stating: "Plainly obvious the Glazer family aren’t going to announce anything on the ownership until the season is closed! They’ve been spinning it out unprofessionally for weeks and months now. They know fan protests would have been more significant than they already have if matches were still being played and the end result of the sale process is unpopular."

INEOS want to purchase 69% of the club, whereas Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation want to claim 100% of Manchester United and clear debt owed by the club, as per GOAL.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Ratcliffe and his INEOS team will be quietly confident over their chances of becoming the new owners of the Red Devils.

Jacobs told FFC: "INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have a flexible offer on the table, they're prepared to get in control of the club and allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay, but they're also prepared to buy 69% of the football club. As a consequence of that and because their valuation is higher than the Nine Two Foundation, at around £6.5 billion, there's less of a negotiation there and more questioning around technical points of that bid and INEOS remain cautiously optimistic."

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will be keen to focus on matters on the field and will be readying his side for another tilt at trophy glory this weekend as they prepare to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

The Red Devils have already recorded Carabao Cup success this term and Ten Hag will want to add another trophy to his cabinet to complement what has been a commendable season in charge as his side will also have Champions League football to look forward to in 2023/24.

Transfer targets will also be on the agenda for Manchester United and they are reportedly going to make a 'formal approach' to try and acquire Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, as per Sky Sports.

Mount may be the first of several arrivals at Old Trafford as things get set to hot up on and off the pitch at Manchester United in the next few weeks.

Player of the Tournament at the 2022 Copa America Femenina, the 18-year-old forward will be one of the best young players in Australia and New Zealand

Linda Caicedo might only be 18 years old, but she’s already racked up a list of milestones that some players don’t even hit across an entire career. She’s twice lifted a league title, won a Golden Boot award, played a youth World Cup final, reached the same stage at a home Copa America and signed for one of the biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid. This summer, with Colombia, she’ll add her first senior World Cup to that glowing CV, too.

In and amongst it all, she also overcame an experience that no one would ever want to endure, one that almost ended her career before it had barely begun. Aged 15, having already had her breakthrough in the Colombian top-flight, Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“At the time, I didn't think I could play professionally again because of all the treatments and surgeries I had to go through,” the forward told . “Mentally, it was a very difficult moment in my life. I'm forever grateful that it happened when I was very young. I was able to recover, I also had my family's support, and I feel very good now. What happened made me grow. I feel thankful and happy to be here.”

Caicedo’s mature reflection on such an experience shows what a wise head she has on such young shoulders. It’s a trait that shows on the pitch, too, whether it results in her wearing the captain’s armband, making smart decisions with the ball or working hard to fulfil responsibilities that benefit the whole team.

Alongside her extraordinary talent, it’s another reason why she is one of the most highly-rated young players on this planet. Let GOAL introduce you to a player set for superstardom…

• Deportivo Cali
  

  Where it began

  Despite no one in her family playing the sport, Caicedo took up football at the age of five, first in a boys’ team and later with girls. When she was 11 years old, the forward joined Atlas, the sports school of former Colombia national team player Carolina Pineda. It was there that Melissa Ortiz, who went to the 2012 Olympic Games with Colombia, first saw her play.

  “She was like 14 years old,” Ortiz tells GOAL. “I even told her now-agent, 'You need to sign her!' and he eventually did. I just remember thinking, 'She's going to be the next big thing'.”

  Caicedo's next steps would see her represent her region in tournaments, then the youth national teams, before a move to America de Cali aged 14. In her first season with the club, she won the Golden Boot and inspired them to a first-ever league title, earning herself a senior national team debut as a result.

  Although too young to play in the Copa Libertadores after helping America qualify, she would debut in the competition two years later for the club’s rivals, Deportivo Cali. Caicedo made the switch in early 2020 and would have another league title to her name in her second season.

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• Getty
  

  The big break

  The hype around Caicedo had been building steadily for some time – but 2022 was her big year. Colombia hosted Copa America and it was a tournament that their teenage forward took by storm.

  Caicedo scored the only goal in the semi-final against Argentina and was then named the Most Valuable Player of the final, though her country were defeated 1-0 by Brazil. In the end, she also scooped up the Player of the Tournament award, having fully asserted herself on the senior stage during the month of July.

  A month later, she scored twice as Colombia reached the knockout stages of the U20 Women's World Cup for just the second time, topping a group that Germany crashed out of. In October, she bettered that, making history as part of the first Colombia team ever to reach a World Cup final as she captained the U17s to the showpiece match in India. Spain beat them by the finest of margins in a 1-0 result, as Caicedo collected the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot awards to go with her runners-up medal.

  Time after time she was asked to deliver and, time after time, she did. It was the year that really put Caicedo’s name in lights.

• Getty
  

  How it's going

  Things have only got better in the months since, with Caicedo signing for Real Madrid in February, just a few days after celebrating her 18th birthday. She’s already making her mark with Las Blancas, scoring a huge extra-time goal against Villarreal as part of the team’s run to the Copa de la Reina final.

  While gaining huge experience in Spain, she’s continued to be a key figure for country and is now heading to her first senior World Cup – her third at any level in 12 months.

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• Getty
  

  Biggest strengths

  Capable of playing out wide or more centrally, Caicedo’s lightning pace, goalscoring instincts and confidence in taking players on are all big strengths of her game that make her such a dangerous proposition for opposing defences.

  When she does get into those good areas, the teenager can finish well because of her ability to use both feet, too. Throw in her desire to work hard for her team, either in tracking back or pressing high, and she is an asset on both sides of the ball.

  Caicedo’s character is another part of what makes her a great footballer. For one, she is a great leader, often wearing the captain’s armband for Colombia’s youth teams and proving to be a motivating presence for her team-mates.

  She’s also a player who speaks often about enjoying herself on the pitch and has an incredibly humble attitude, previously describing her humility and joyfulness as her strengths. There’s no doubt those qualities have helped her thrive despite so much hype and pressure from the outside.

  “I still have a long way to go,” she told GOAL last year. “I am only 17 years old. I haven't won anything in the national team yet. I don't have a historical record, so I want to improve in that.

  “I am very young and I have a lot of tournaments ahead of me, so that is what I am doing, I am believing and I hope people will know me for that, for my joy, for the way I lived soccer, and that is how I always want to be known everywhere.”

ScorecardDarren Stevens’ century was a handy contract reminder•Getty Images

Kent beneficiary Darren Stevens hit an unbeaten century in what could transpire to be his final game for the county as the hosts posted 389 for 7 on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship clash with Essex.After a first day wash-out and an uncontested toss, the 40-year-old all-rounder – whose contract expires at the end of the match – hit a typically belligerent unbeaten 107 to give his side the edge in this contest between the top two sides in the second tier.Sam Northeast and Joe Denly also posted half-centuries as the hosts racked up four batting bonus points, leaving them to secure one more point from this final-round game in order to clinch second place, and with it the ECB’s prize money of almost £57,000.Stevens, who went into this final round game in the midst of protracted talks over a new contract, said: “There was a bit of anger, frustration and disappointment in that knock today, but I’m delighted we’ve almost got to 400 as a team, that we’ve virtually secured second place and we’re now in a good position to go on and win the game.”I love this place and I don’t want to go anywhere else, so my hope is that we can sort something out because I feel I’ve still got two years left in me. I still have passion for the club and for these lads and I want to be successful, so we’ll have to see what happens.”I always love scoring runs and get more satisfaction from scoring runs being that Kent signed me as a batsman. I’ve obviously turned myself into a bit of an all-rounder in the meantime, but my main job is to get runs and the past couple of months have been pretty enjoyable in that regard.”This summer for our batters has been exceptional and we’re all pretty much close to 1,000 runs now. I got a bit edgy against the second new ball because it was sliding on and dong a little bit more in the air. But I backed myself to play my shots and got over the line to my hundred in the last over.”Batting first on a pitch that spent much of Tuesday morning under wraps, Kent lost their first wicket after an hour’s play but only three overs after umpires Russ Evans and Graham Lloyd had changed the misshapen original ball.Having hit seven fours in an attractive 32, Daniel Bell-Drummond threw all but the kitchen sink into a wide cover drive against Will Rhodes, only to edge to slip where Varun Chopra took a sharp, overhead catch.Fellow opener Sean Dickson (16) soon followed when he nicked a defensive push at a Matt Dixon leg-cutter to be caught behind by a tumbling Adam Wheater to make it 50 for 2.Home skipper Northeast posted 109 for the third wicket with Denly within 25.1 overs either side of lunch. Denly posted his fourth championship half-century from 98 balls with eight fours, while Northeast reached his third 50 from 70 deliveries and with seven boundaries.Moments later Northeast’s late decision to shoulder arms to Rhodes saw him deflect the ball onto his own stumps via the face of the bat and depart for 56.Sam Billings marched in to spank a cover drive for four and pull a short one from Ravi Bopara to the ropes at square leg. But, with his score on 16, Billings’ cameo ended when he missed another attempted pull against Bopara to be sent packing lbw by umpire Russ Evans.With Kent’s first batting bonus point on the board, Denly’s stay for an excellent 74 ended when he nicked a back-foot force against Dixon to the keeper, then on-loan Nottinghamshire all-rounder Will Gidman fenced at Dixon’s next delivery to give Wheater a third catch and Dixon, the pick of the Essex attack, a third scalp.Stevens and James Tredwell combined to hoist a third batting bonus point courtesy of a sensible seventh-wicket stand. Essex took the second new ball in a bid to break the partnership, but Stevens lofted the third delivery with the new cherry from Dixon for six over mid-wicket to bring up his sixth 50 for 2016 from 83 balls and with seven fours.Dixon enjoyed a fourth success and ended the stand for 108 by snaring Tredwell for 39. The ball after having Tredwell dropped behind, Dixon snapped one back off the seam to trap the left-hander lbw.With Essex flagging, Stevens unfurled his big drives and cuts to reach an 83-ball 50 off Dixon with a six over mid-wicket, then mark his 125 ball century – the 31st of his first-class career – with a flat-bat six over backward point off Paul Walter. The veteran hit 13 fours and three sixes.