Watch highlights of day two
Jesse Ryder had another day to remember as Essex moved into a commanding position against Worcestershire in their search for promotion in the LV= County Championship.
Fresh from his career-best 5-24 that demolished the visitors in their first innings, he struck a magnificent unbeaten 120 as the home side piled their way to a total of 431 and a first-innings lead of 347.
By the close, Worcestershire were 113 for two in their second knock.
Ryder's second championship century of the summer came on a day when it was announced he had signed a two-year contract with the county and had been awarded his county cap.
After Essex had resumed on 198 for three, they quickly lost Nick Browne who added just 12 runs to his overnight 106 before shouldering arms against spinner Moeen Ali.
James Foster quickly followed lbw to leg-spinner Brett D'Oliveira having taken his overnight 36 onto 48 while Kishen Velani was caught in the deep for nine attacking Charles Morris.
When Graham Napier became a victim to the same bowler for only two, Essex found themselves 268 for seven but David Masters then arrived to provide solid support as Ryder cut loose at the other end.
The New Zealander unleashed a succession of brutal strokes either side of the wicket as he completed his century from 101 balls, his second 50 arriving from just 31 deliveries.
Masters contributed 18 from 86 in a stand of 71 in 23 overs before Moeen had him caught at slip but Worcestershire's hopes of a swift closure were dashed as Monty Panesar came to the wicket.
Much to the delight of the crowd, Panesar even kept pace with Ryder with some meaty blows in gathering 38 from 43 balls including seven boundaries, to share a stand of 76 in a little more than 10 overs, before becoming a victim of Jack Shantry.
When Ryder finally ran out of partners, he had struck 14 fours and three sixes but even then he was not finished.
He took the new ball when the visitors commenced their second innings and with only nine runs on the board, he got rid of Richard Oliver with Browne's help at slip.
The arrival of Panesar for his first over in the match saw him strike with his fourth delivery when he trapped Daryl Mitchell leg before with the total on 54. But his dismissal did nothing to curb the attacking instincts of England international Moeen.
He went boldly for his shots to reach his half-century from 74 balls that included five fours and a six.
When off-spinner Tom Westley appeared on the scene, the left-hander blazed two fours and a six in the bowler's opening over to take the Worcestershire total into three figures.
He will resume tomorrow on 70 with Tom Fell, who has so far contributed just 14 in an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 59.
But even if Essex collect their expected victory, they will be pipped for promotion if Hampshire, as appears likely, beat Glamorgan at Cardiff.