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Cheteshwar Pujara's purple patch with the willow continued in England as he rallied Sussex to a thrilling victory against Durham in the ongoing Royal One Day Cup match at Chester-le-Street.
While chasing a lowly target of 229, Pujara held the key for Sussex with a sedate 49 not out off 68 and propelled his side to a four-wicket win.
Pujara has been in red-hot form for Sussex, the right-handed batter has already mustered 406 runs in six List A matches in the ongoing Royal One Day Cup. The Indian batter has scored two centuries, including his career-best 174 against Surrey.
The Sussex were able to restrict Durham to 228 for eight from their 50 overs courtesy of three wickets from James Coles, while Aristides Karvelas and Bradley Currie claimed two wickets. Graham Clark top-scored for the hosts with 69.
Sussex made a composed start as Ali Orr provided the platform with a knock of 60, but regular wickets for the home side made life interesting as the South-Coast outfit wobbled during the latter stages of the chase.
However, Pujara held his patience with an unbeaten 49 before Coles knocked off the winning runs with a drive down the ground.
Durham were already out of contention - their points for a solitary victory scrubbed out by a two-point deduction. They won the toss and opted to bat first at the Riverside, but the opening partnership lasted into only the fourth over as Nic Maddinson edged to second slip for only a single. Currie then claimed his second wicket of his first spell with a beauty to Scott Borthwick, removing the Durham skipper's off-stump to reduce the hosts to 24 for two. Sean Dickson joined Clark in the middle and two fended off the new ball to move the home side past fifty through the first Powerplay.
The visitors were able to restrict Durham to 228 for eight from their 50 overs courtesy of three wickets from James Coles, while Aristides Karvelas and Bradley Currie claimed two wickets. Graham Clark top-scored for the hosts with 69 and George Drissell notched a career-best 37, but defending their total was always going to be a challenge.
