حقق فريق مانشستر سيتي فوزًا مثيرًا على فولهام خلال المباراة التي جمعتهما ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” لموسم 2025-2026.
والتقى مانشستر سيتي وفولهام ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي، مساء الثلاثاء، حيث حل فريق بيب جوارديولا ضيفًا على خصمه.
وكان مانشستر سيتي متقدمًا بنتيجة 5-1، لكن فولهام نجح في تسجيل 3 أهداف، لتحسم المباراة بفوز السيتي بنتيجة 5-4.
وبفوزه يرتفع رصيد مانشستر سيتي للنقطة 28 خلف المتصدر آرسنال الذي حقق الفوز أمام برينتفورد بهدفين دون مقابل على ملعب “الإمارات” ليرفع رصيده في الصدارة إلى 33 نقطة.
اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدف هالاند في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وفولهام
وتعادل ليفربول بهدف لمثله مع سندرلاند، وتعرض تشيلسي للهزيمة بثلاثية لهدف من نظيره ليدز، مساء الأربعاء، واستقبل مانشستر يونايتد وست هام، مساء الخميس حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي
1. آرسنال، 33 نقطة.
2. مانشستر سيتي، 28 نقطة.
3. أستون فيلا، 27 نقطة.
4. تشيلسي، 24 نقطة.
5. كريستال بالاس، 23 نقطة.
6. سندرلاند، 23 نقطة.
7. برايتون، 22 نقطة.
8. مانشستر يونايتد، 22 نقطة.
9. ليفربول، 22 نقطة.
10. إيفرتون، 21 نقطة.
11. توتنهام، 19 نقطة.
12. نيوكاسل، 19 نقطة.
13. برينتفورد، 19 نقطة.
14. بورنموث، 19 نقطة.
15. فولهام، 17 نقطة.
16. نوتينجهام، 15 نقطة.
17. ليدز، 14 نقطة.
18. وست هام، 12 نقطة.
19. بيرنلي، 10 نقاط.
20. ولفرهامبتون، نقطتان.
ويمكنك متابعة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي محدث لحظة بلحظة من خلال الرابط.
Pelo mundo de novo! O Flamengo venceu o Pyramids (EGI) por 2 a 0, neste sábado (13), e está na final da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG. Léo Pereira e Danilo, com dois passes de Arrascaeta, fizeram os gols da classificação rubro-negra no Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, e consagraram a equipe como campeã da Copa Challenger. Assim, o Mais Querido segue vivo no sonho do bicampeonato mundial.
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O Flamengo assumiu o controle da partida desde o início, sustentando a posse de bola e ocupando o campo ofensivo com frequência. Na primeira etapa, equipe de Filipe Luís concentrou suas ações pelos lados, sobretudo pelo corredor esquerdo com Cebolinha, enquanto o Pyramids adotou uma postura reativa, com linhas baixas e foco quase exclusivo em proteger a própria área e buscar transições rápidas, que pouco se materializaram na maior parte do primeiro tempo.
Apesar do domínio territorial, o Rubro-Negro encontrou dificuldades para transformar volume em chances claras. A melhor oportunidade em bola rolando surgiu quando Cebolinha apareceu livre dentro da área, mas teve a finalização travada na pequena área pela defesa egípcia. Com espaços reduzidos e pouca mobilidade do adversário, a solução veio na bola parada. Aos 24 minutos, Arrascaeta cobrou falta para a área, Léo Pereira se antecipou à marcação e cabeceou no canto para abrir o placar.
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Após o gol, o Flamengo reduziu o ritmo e passou a trocar passes no campo defensivo com a intenção de atrair o Pyramids e explorar eventuais brechas. O plano, no entanto, teve pouca resposta, já que o time egípcio manteve a marcação recuada e deixou para reagir apenas no fim da etapa inicial. Primeiro, em uma finalização perigosa de Ziko dentro da área. Depois, já aos 45 minutos, Mayele ficou frente a frente com Rossi, que venceu o duelo e evitou o empate com uma defesa decisiva.
A equipe egípcia voltou do intervalo mais agressiva. Logo na saída de bola, Mayele recebeu lançamento na grande área e bateu firme, mas longe do gol de Rossi. Três minutos depois, foi a vez de Zakara dominar dentro da área e bater rasteiro, acertando a rede pelo lado de fora.
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Não demorou muito para o Flamengo dar um banho de água fria na pressão do Pyramids. Em mais uma jogada de bola parada, Arrascaeta cobrou falta na segunda trave e Danilo, o herói da Libertadores, voou mais uma vez — contando com falha do goleiro El Shenawy — para marcar o segundo rubro-negro em Doha.
Com a vantagem confortável no placar, o Rubro-Negro passou a ter menos a bola, mas sem sofrer investidas perigosas do adversário. A melhor chance dos egípcios veio de fora da área, mais uma vez com Mayele, e Rossi saltou para encaixar a bola. Bruno Henrique, que entrou no segundo tempo, também teve boa chance ao tentar driblar o goleiro El Shenawy, que levou a melhor no duelo.
O jogo ganhou clima quente na reta final. Zalaka reclamou de pênalti após se acertado no rosto por Erick Pulgar, mas a arbitragem mandou seguir. O lance gerou revolta do lado do Pyramids, e os jogadores de ambas equipes começaram a se entranhar em campo.
Nos minutos finais, o Flamengo ainda contou com a volta de Pedro após 52 dias afastado por lesão. O camia 9 substituiu Carrascal aos 40 minutos da segunda etapa e teve chance de marcar ao receber de Bruno Henrique, mas parou no goleiro. Ele ainda arriscou chute de fora da área, e mais uma vez ficou em El Shenawy. No fim, vitória tranquila do Rubro-Negro para seguir em busca do bicampeonato mundial.
O que vem por aí?
O Flamengo volta a campo na próxima quarta-feira (17), às 14h (de Brasília), e decidirá o título da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG. O duelo acontece, mais uma vez, no Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, no Catar.
📲Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo
✅ FICHA TÉCNICA FLAMENGO 2 X 0 PYRAMIDS COPA CHALLENGER / COPA INTERCONTINENTAL 📆 Data e horário: sábado, 13 de dezembro de 2025, às 14h (de Brasília); 📍 Local: Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, no Catar; 🥅 Gols: Léo Pereira, aos 24’/1ºT (1-0); 🟨 Cartões Amarelos: Marrie, Atef e Zalaka (PYR); 🟥 Cartões Vermelhos: 🏟️ Público: 8.368 pessoas.
⚽ ESCALAÇÕES FLAMENGO (Técnico: Filipe Luís) Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira e Alex Sandro (Ayrton Lucas); Pulgar, Jorginho (De la Cruz) e Arrascaeta (Luiz Araújo); Carrascal (Pedro), Plata e Cebolinha (Bruno Henrique).
Further work required, particularly at senior leadership levels, according to Sport Structures report
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2025
The ECB has work to do, according to a new report on equity and inclusion, but has made progress•PA Images/Getty
A new independent assessment of cricket in England and Wales says that “genuine progress” has been made in the sport’s bid to address its long-standing issues of inclusion and equity – but adds that further work is needed in several areas, including at senior leadership level.The State of Equity in Cricket Report, published by Sport Structures, had been commissioned by the ECB as a follow-up to the damning 2023 report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which found that racism, classism, sexism and elitism were “widespread” in the sport.That original report had concluded with 44 recommendations to the ECB, one of which was to publish a “full State of Equity Report every three years”. This latest document, 53 pages long, has been delivered a year ahead of schedule, with Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, stating that it was intended to “hold us to account” as cricket seeks to become the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales.”Cricket is not yet where it aspires to be, but the tone has changed,” Kate Percival, Sport Structures’ CEO, said in a statement. “Inclusion is now seen as central to the game’s health and future.”The report outlined several “notable areas of progress”, including improved access to talent pathways, and a doubling of the number of women’s and girl’s teams since 2021, backed up by significant increases in the number of professional women’s players and their pay.The establishment of a new independent Cricket Regulator, ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB, was also noted in the report, along with a £50 million investment in facilities since 2023, particularly in urban areas including two all-weather cricket domes in Bradford and Darwen.However, despite improved representation at board level – with female non-executives at 37% compared to 11% in 2019, and 18% ethnically diverse non-executives compared to 5% in 2019 – the report stated that “further action” was required at senior level, with a particular lack of Black representation.Dame Sarah Storey is the only female chair at a first-class county•Lancashire CCC
Dame Sarah Storey, who is currently interim chair at Lancashire, remains the only female chair at any of the 18 first-class counties, while the resignation of Essex chair Anu Mohindru – who was found to have lied on his CV – means the ethnic diversity among county chairs and chief executives remains at 6%.Coaching course data showed that more diversity is required in the Specialist programme which feeds the professional game, while Disability cricket requires “deeper integration” within county and club systems. The recreational game, meanwhile, requires further “capacity and expertise” to deal with discrimination issues, although a newly-formed Recreational Discipline Panel of independent experts is in place to hear the most serious and complex cases.”The State of Equity in Cricket Report holds us to account in relation to our ambitions to become the most inclusive team sport,” Gould said. “It shows us some areas of excellent work and progress, as well as where we need to go further.”The extensive work to open up the talent pathway to young people from every background is a great example of the changes that can be made when cricketing organisations join forces to break down barriers and deliver systemic change.”We know there is still a great deal of work to do, and a number of areas where more action is needed to address structural issues. We said from the start there could be no quick fix, but we committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change, and that will remain our absolute focus in the months and years ahead as we build on the progress we are setting out today.”
تحدث وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، عن تفاصيل عرض برشلونة لضم مهاجم القلعة الحمراء الشاب حمزة عبد الكريم، وعرض هانوفر بشأن بلال عطية.
وقال صلاح الدين، عبر قناة “النهار”: “هذا الأمر سيكون مع الإدارة، عرض هانوفر الألماني معايشة لبلال عطية، حمزة لا يوجد عرض رسمي أتى للنادي الأهلي”.
طالع.. وليد صلاح الدين يكشف خطة الأهلي لتجديد عقود اللاعبين.. وأسباب اختيار توروب
وواصل: “نعرف قدر اللاعبين ونريد خروجهم للاحتراف ولكن مهم جدًا مصلحة الأهلي إذا كان إعادة بيع أو إعارة أو نية شراء برقم كبير، كل ذلك سيُبحث عندما توجد عروض رسمية بأرقام مؤكدة”.
وذكرت صحيفة سبورت، أن المفاوضات بين برشلونة والأهلي جارية منذ ثلاثة أسابيع بشأن حمزة عبد الكريم، وأن هناك تفاؤلاً في الفريق الكتالوني بإتمام الصفقة، على الرغم من اهتمام العديد من الأندية الأوروبية بضم اللاعب.
وأوضحت الصحيفة، أن رغبة برشلونة هي ضم حمزة عبد الكريم خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل في يناير على سبيل الإعارة لمدة ستة أشهر، مع وجود خيار الشراء النهائي في نهاية الموسم.
وأردفت الصحيفة، أن حمزة عبد الكريم سيبلغ الـ18 من عمره في بداية العام الجديد، ما سيسهل كثيرًا على برشلونة التعاقد معه، حيث يتم الآن وضع اللمسات النهائية على الصفقة.
أصبح برشلونة، فريق الرديف، بحاجة شديدة للتعاقد مع مهاجم، وقد بدأ بالفعل بالبحث عنه بسبب إصابات طويلة الأمد تعرض لها ثنائي الفريق باربيرا وجيستاو.
وذكر الصحفي المقرب من برشلونة أشرف بن عياد أن حمزة عبد الكريم مهاجم الأهلي الشاب هو اللاعب المختار، بعد مراقبة وبحث من قسم الكشافة عن لاعب يتميز بحس تهديفي غزير.
ووفقاً لصحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، فإن المصري حمزة عبد الكريم أصبح هدف برشلونة المفضل، ويعد عامل السن الذي غالباً ما يمثل عائقاً أمام انتقال اللاعبين القاصرين من خارج الاتحاد الأوروبي والذي أفشل العديد من الصفقات بسبب لوائح الفيفا، عاملاً إيجابياً لبرشلونة.
وسيبلغ المهاجم المصري الشاب حمزة عبد الكريم عامه الـ18 في يناير المقبل، وهو الموعد الذي يرغب برشلونة من خلاله ضمه لصفوفه، وتقدم النادي بعرض رسمي للأهلي لضمه بصيغة إعارة مع خيار الشراء، لكن النادي المصري لن يسهل الأمر على العملاق الإسباني.
أقرأ أيضاً.. حمزة عبد الكريم يتحدث عن العروض الأخيرة.. وسر تواجده في قائمة منتخب مصر
ووفقاً للصحيفة، فإنه بالتواصل مع مسؤولين من النادي الأهلي، فقد أكدوا تلقي عرض رسمي بحانب عروض مالية أعلى للاعب، حيث أبدى كل من سبورتينج لشبونة وأوليمبيك ليون وبايرن ميونخ اهتمامهم بخدمات حمزة عبد الكريم.
ويؤكد الأهلي أنه لا يرغب ببيع حمزة عبد الكريم حالياً وسيحاول النادي المصري الاحتفاظ بخدماته، حيث يعتبرونه أفضل لاعبي مصر الواعدين، وأحد أبرز مواهب الكرة الإفريقية، ومع ذلك أيضاً لا يملكون كل الصلاحيات لأنه يتبقى فقط في عقد المهاجم الشاب مع الأهلي 18 شهراً ويمكنه الرحيل مجاناً بعد عام ونصف.
وبحسب مصادر مقربة من حمزة عبد الكريم، فإن رغبته هي الانضمام لبرشلونة وقد حسم موقفه بالفعل ويريد الذهاب للبلوجرانا مهما كانت الظروف، ومع ذلك فإن القرار النهائي يعود للأهلي الذي سيقرر إذا كان يرغب في التربح من بيعه أو الاحتفاظ بخدمات موهبته رغم علمه برغبته بالرحيل لتحقيق حلمه بالانضمام لناديه المفضل.
ويرفض الأهلي المصري تماماً بيع حمزة عبد الكريم، ويتعين على برشلونة الانتظار لرؤية تطور المفاوضات في الأيام المقبلة، وينتظر معرفة ما إذا كان البارسا سيقدم عرضاً ثانياً للتعاقد مع الجوهرة المصرية أم سيتحرك لضم مهاجم آخر.
Opener Reece bats all day for unbeaten on 123 while Madsen ends 147 not out, having passed 1,000 runs for summer
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Sep-2025
Luis Reece swats the ball leg side•Getty Images
Derbyshire 389 for 2 (Madsen 147*, Reece 123*, Donald 55) vs Kent Wayne Madsen and Luis Reece both made centuries as Derbyshire piled on the runs in their Rothesay County Championship match with Kent at Canterbury, reaching 389 for 2 at the end of day one.Opener Reece batted all day and was unbeaten on 123 while Madsen was 147 not out, having passed 1,000 runs for the summer. By stumps their partnership was 231, a Derbyshire record for the third wicket against Kent.Reece’s fellow opener Aneurin Donald chipped in with 55 as the home bowlers struggled to make any impact.It says something about the way Kent’s season has gone that the loudest applause of the day came midway through the afternoon session, when it was announced the coffee machine in the Lime Tree cafe had been fixed.Third-placed Derbyshire chose to bat against a side guaranteed to finish bottom of Division Two and the morning session went to form, with the visitors reaching 108 for 1 at lunch.The sole victim was Donald, who was bowled leg-stump by Michael Cohen, shortly after he’d driven him through the covers to bring up his 50.When play resumed Reece tickled a Grant Stewart delivery down the leg side for four to reach his half-century and although Matt Parkinson had Harry Came stumped by Harry Finch for 35 at the start of the next over, Madsen joined Reece and reached four figures for the first-class season, the eighth time he’s reached that milestone.Kent were docked six points for a slow over rate in their last game with Leicestershire but despite, or perhaps because of this, there was widespread incredulity when the tea interval was taken on time, for the first time it what seemed like an eon, with the visitors on 238 for 2.Madsen took a single off Cohen to reach 50 and then dumped Jaydn Denly over cow corner for six.Reece scampered a single off Parkinson to reach his century, before he played a dreadful shot to the very next delivery, skying Parkinson straight to Ben Dawkins, who somehow dropped him.Madsen took two from a Stewart no ball to get to three figures, then overtook his partner before hitting a six off Corey Flintoff that broke Derbyshire’s record stand for the third wicket, the 202 put on by Chris Adams and Dean Jones at this venue in 1997.Madsen nearly perished in the final over when he hit Parkinson to long on, but Stewart couldn’t pick the flight of the ball and the chance went begging.
انضم الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، لبعثة الأبيض في جنوب إفريقيا في ساعة مبكرة من صباح اليوم الخميس، استعدادًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز المقبلة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.
وكان الجهاز الفني للزمالك وافق على مشاركة اللاعب مع منتخب فلسطين أمام ليبيا في التصفيات المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العرب.
ويحل الزمالك ضيفًا على كايزر تشيفز في الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات في الثالثة عصر السبت 29 نوفمبر الجاري باستاد بيتر موكابا بمدينة بولوكواني.
ونجح جهاز الزمالك في نقل تدريب اليوم الخميس ليقام على الملعب الرئيسي باستاد بيتر موكابا والذي يستضيف المباراة استعدادًا لخوض مواجهة كايزر تشيفز.
طالع|”لعبة وكلاء”.. تطورات جديدة في أزمة عمر فرج مع الزمالك
وقام محمد حسن تيتو المدير الإداري بالتنسيق مع مسؤولي الاستاد ليخوض الفريق مرانه اليوم على ملعب المباراة، بخلاف خوض التدريب الأساسي غدًا على نفس الملعب.
ويخوض الزمالك تدريبه في الثالثة عصر اليوم، ومن المقرر أن يلقي أحمد عبد الرؤوف المدير الفني للفريق محاضرة فنية على اللاعبين في الثامنة مساء اليوم للحديث عن المباراة المرتقبة أمام بطل جنوب إفريقيا.
Manchester United are four games unbeaten in the Premier League. Since Ruben Amorim last tasted defeat, Anfield has been conquered, and it was goals galore during that thrilling win over Brighton at Old Trafford.
Here have been the first baby steps in a long and arduous journey toward the future, and with that exciting thought dancing at the back of the fans’ minds, we are inevitably turned back to the past.
Because it’s been a long, long time since the Red Devils enjoyed consistency at the top of the table, battling year on year for the biggest titles. Sir Alex Ferguson has not celebrated a Premier League or Champions League title from the stands.
If Amorim hopes to lead United back to such elusive glory, he will need more than just a string of favourable results to his name. He will need to rethread the Fergie feeling into the club’s DNA.
Curiously, there are signs this is taking place, with a number of United stars showing elements of that bygone era in recent weeks.
The Fergie-esque Man Utd stars
Topically, Amad Diallo would fancy himself worthy of a place in one of Ferguson’s one-time squads. The Ivory Coast international has developed something of a penchant for late goals, after all.
In fact, all ten of Amad’s Premier League goals have come in the second half.
However, he’s not alone in that regard. The frontline has been a place of contention for the Theatre of Dreams in recent years, and especially so since Amorim arrived and ousted the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho.
Matheus Cunha looks a cut above, and even though the Brazilian has not yet found his Midas touch in front of goal, his quality is undeniable, with writer Wayne Burton claiming he has the “potential to be an all-timer”, so talented that he might be “the best player we’ve had since Fergie retired”.
Lofty praise, but undoubtedly wearing a ring of truth. This is all to say that there are promising signs at Old Trafford. Bryan Mbeumo looks a star, and given that he has singled out Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his biggest influences, you can see him succeeding in the long run. The Cameroonian plays with the same kind of robust potency as CR7 once did when cutting his teeth under Fergie’s wing.
United still need to make more improvements though, and the current struggles of wing-back Diogo Dalot emphasise the need for new blood on the flanks to help Amorim realise his lofty ambitions.
Once, Gary Neville dominated for the elite outfit; so underrated nowadays, the retired Three Lions star is one of the finest full-backs of his generation.
Dalot, 26, doesn’t look like he’s going to make that grade after once arriving from Porto as a teenager with such promise.
He’s not the only one, though. This is a recurring problem, and one which recalls a time when Sir Alex felt he had landed the next version of Neville, only for this player to fail to kick on.
The Fergie flop who was billed as the next Neville
The Fergie era at Manchester United was defined by meteoric highs. On the transfer front, the Red Devils had the ascendancy within the English game, but a few potential stars fell by the wayside.
One of which would be Rafael Da Silva, who did spend seven seasons at Old Trafford after graduating from the Carrington ranks, but perhaps failed to ever reach the potential his manager saw in him.
Time was when Rafael was viewed as having the potential to become a superstar. He and his twin brother Fabio had been brought over from Brazilian club Fluminense in February 2007, and he would make 170 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying 14 assists.
Rafael’s time at the club could hardly be defined as a failure, but he probably served as more of a bit-part player than an instrumental cog in the machine.
Rafael’s Premier League Career with Man Utd
Season
Apps
Minutes
14/15
10
590′
13/14
19
1,418′
12/13
28
2,317′
11/12
12
914′
10/11
16
1,201′
09/10
8
682′
08/09
16
1,055′
Data via Transfermarkt
A three-time Premier League champion he may be, but Ferguson believed he was destined for greatness. The retired manager said in 2012, “I think Rafael will eventually be compared to Gary Neville.”
This didn’t end up being the case. Rafael ended up leaving when under louis van Gaal’s management, at odds with the Dutch manager, and several contentious career events beforehand, coupled with injuries, left his former manager’s prediction untrue.
There’s no question that he is fondly remembered, even considered by some supporters to be something of a cult hero, but Rafael was abundantly talented, and there really was a chance that he could have filled the void that was left when Neville wound down.
A fearless and tenacious attitude, coupled with a burning desire to make things happen and excite the crowd, won the Manchester crowds over instantly, and maybe why we look back now with an air of ruefulness about Rafael’s fizzled-out finish at the club, leaving for French side Lyon in 2015 for a small £2.5m fee.
In any case, it’s funny that you might say his robust and dynamic profile would be well-suited to the current Amorim-led system, but this only emphasises the need for a Neville-esque figure to ensure this new chapter at the club keeps moving forward after such interminable turmoil.
Because sadly, it feels like Dalot has fallen down a similar route, with content creator Liam Canning saying recently that the Portugual international is “becoming a worry long term”, given that he “doesn’t look like he suits the wing back role”.
Neville might be modest about his ability as a Premier League footballer, but it would take to knock him off that all-timer pedestal.
Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd
Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.
Jordan Cox makes 132, Matt Critchley 123 as Essex reach 475 for 9 before bad light, rain steal 28 overs
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025
Matt Critchley turns the ball leg side•PA Photos/Getty Images
Essex 475 for 9 (Cox 132, Critchley 123) lead Sussex 204 by 271 runsHundreds by Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley strengthened Essex’s position on the second day against Sussex at Hove.Cox made 132 and Critchley 123 as Essex reached 475 for 9 before bad light and rain took 28 overs off the day’s allocation after tea.Sussex haven’t lost a home game in the Rothesay County Championship since May 2022 but will be hard pressed to maintain that record after Essex stretched their lead to 271.That was largely down to Cox and Critchley, who put on 184 in 43 overs in the first half of the day.Cox made 139 not out last week against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast and showed similar form against the red ball here, hitting 23 fours in his tenth first-class century – the second fifty of which came off 53 balls.Sussex’s seam attack struggled in the absence of the rested Ollie Robinson, and with the Kookaburra ball offering little assistance skipper John Simpson soon adopted a containment strategy by rotating his attack in short spells in search of a breakthrough.But with a temptingly short boundary on the pavilion side it was hard to contain Cox and Critchley, who offered one half-chance on 27 when Gurinder Sandhu got one hand on the ball at long on but couldn’t cling onto a very difficult opportunity.Cox reached his century by reverse-sweeping Jack Carson to the boundary as 149 runs came before lunch. Sussex desperately needed to break through with the second new ball and they did so when it was five overs old. Cox launched into a full-blooded drive at Sandhu and second slip James Coles parried the edge into the air and Tom Alsop dived full length at first slip to take the catch.Critchley also lodged his tenth first-class hundred of his career, which he reached in the 89th over when he ran a delivery from Ari Karvelas down to third. As well as 12 fours he also hit five leg-side sixes in 175 balls.He departed after a smart piece of work by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at mid-on who ran him out with a direct hit after Critchley had been called through for a quick single by Michael Pepper.When Noah Thain had his middle stump plucked out of the ground by Sandhu with the next ball there was brief respite for Sussex.Rain and thunderstorms arrived at tea and when the players returned at 5.50pm Pepper (44) got a thin edge to the fourth ball after the resumption from Hudson-Prentice, who then had Khaleel Ahmed caught on the boundary before bad light forced an early close with Essex in control.