Cheteshwar Pujara scores 4th successive century for Sussex
Cheteshwar Pujara continued his imperious form in county cricket with a fourth successive hundred for Sussex against a quality Middlesex attack that had Pakistan international Shaheen Shah Afridi in its ranks.
Pujara, who has already scored two double hundreds and a hundred, batted with attacking intent, reaching the three-figure mark in 133 balls with 13 boundaries and two sixes on Friday (May 7).
Deserved applause as the players walk off at the close of play. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HR0N2cjtNE
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 7, 2022
The first of his two sixes is the one he will remember as he slashed a short ball from Afridi over backward point for a six.
He also hit a boundary off Afridi and negotiated one of world’s premier pacers with ease, completing 500 runs for the season in only four games.
At stumps on the third day, Pujara was batting on 125 off 149 balls with 16 boundaries and two sixes and Sussex in its second innings has reached 236/3. Middlesex had scored 358 in its first essay in reply to Sussex’s 392.
Fourth match, fourth 100+ score. 💯 🤯
It’s a privilege to watch, @cheteshwar1. 👏 pic.twitter.com/IF8nLUt9Yg
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 7, 2022
Pujara’s sequence of scores in county cricket stands as 6, 201 not out, 109, 12, 203, 16 and 125 not out with a total of 582 runs in four games.
The Indian’s hundred came off off-spinner Mark Stoneman, whom he drove for three runs.
Pujara was very attacking throughout the innings and it only helped that the pitch at Sussex’s county ground at Hove was a flat one and with bright sunshine, there wasn’t much happening in the air or off the track.
Pujara added 138 for the third wicket with first innings centurion Tom Aslop (66 off 90 balls) and was severe on young medium pacer Blake Cullen.
Half-century. 🙌 @cheteshwar1 👏
5⃣0⃣ 💥 pic.twitter.com/LAqRskZqyL
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 7, 2022
