New Delhi: Cheteshwar Pujara is back playing in the County Division Two, and has scored a double century against Middlesex. For this game, Pujara is also captaining the Sussex side as their regular captain Tom Haines is injured. This is the third double century by the Indian batter this season.
Pujara, known for his strong defence, grit and long innings, batted for almost nine hours to score a 231 off 403 balls at Lord’s. This was truly a Pujara-fashioned inning. The interim captain led from the front and Sussex managed to score 523 batting first. With this double-ton, the Indian batter has scored a total of 997 runs in 10 innings at an average of 124.62, including 5 centuries. Derbyshire’s Shan Masood, who is the leading scorer this season, is just 77 runs ahead of Pujara, having played 13 innings in comparison to Pujara’s 10.
Today belongs to @cheteshwar1. ?
2⃣3⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/Diar6ng2Dw
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) July 20, 2022
Pujara and Tom Alsop made a 219 runs partnership for the third wicket, which set the tone of the game. Alsop assisted the captain well as he scored 135(277). Pujara had great partnerships with the tailenders to finish the innings with a massive total. Danial Ibrahim and Pujara added 66 runs for the 7th wicket, in which 17-year-old Ibrahim added 36 runs in 85 balls. Aristides Karvelas posted a 50-run stand with Pujara for the 8th wicket, while former England pacer Steven Finn batted to hit a 41-run partnership.
Middlesex’s pacer Tom Helm took a five-wicket haul and also dismissed Pujara for the 10th wicket. At the end of day 2, Middlesex’s score stands on 103/0 as Sam Robson scored 45*(88) while Mark Stoneman hit 47*(89) for the opening partnership.
It was Pujara who emerged as a hero in the game, and his fans are poring in appreciation on social media.
Pujara 200* in county cricket at home of cricket LORDS pic.twitter.com/JtWbGIhhMI
— Mohindersingh123_ (@SportsMohinder) July 20, 2022
Indians having a ball at County! Pujara, Washington, Saini ??
— Udit (@udit_buch) July 21, 2022
Cheteshwar Pujara Is Unstoppable In The County!
.
.#Cricket #indiancricket #countycricket #cheteshwarpujara pic.twitter.com/hpY7aQr43A— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) July 20, 2022
Pujara has a Test match strike-rate of 44.15. In this stint with Sussex, he has gone at 61.35. He is the most pragmatic judge of risk involved within a delivery. This is telling sign of the difference in standards from Tests to County, especially Div 2. But there are positives.
— KASHISH (@crickashish217) July 20, 2022
Indian bowler Umesh Yadav is also playing the game for Middlesex. He went wicketless in the first inning as he gave 70 runs in 29 overs. Other Indians playing in the County includes Washington Sundar (Lancashire), Krunal Pandya (Warwickshire) and Navdeep Saini (Kent). Currently, in the game between Kent and Warwickshire, in the County Division One, Navdeep Saini has taken a 5-fer, while Sundar has also taken a five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire.
