Cheteshwar Pujara is on a roll in England. The veteran Indian batter has registered his fourth consecutive hundred in the ongoing County Championship Division Two for Sussex. Pujara did not just continue his purple patch with a century but scored at an astounding strike rate of 83.89. The 34-year-old is often criticised for his strike rate but he is making a case for comeback into India’s Test side.
On Day 3 of clash between Sussex and Middlesex, Pujara had to hurry to the crease in the second session. Both of Sussex openers Alistair Orr and Tom Haines got out for their respective ducks. Pujara was on the crease on the eight ball of Sussex's second innings.
Pujara did not just look to block after the two quick wickets but launched a counter-attack. Early in his innings, Pujara hit an upper cut off Shaheen Afridi for a six. He got to his half-century from 67 deliveries. He shared a 138-run partnership for the third wicket with Tom Alsop, who scored 66 runs from 90 deliveries.
Later, he hit a six off spinner Luke Hollman as well. He got to his century from 133 deliveries with three runs in the 44th over of the innings. At Day 3, Stumps, Pujara remained unbeaten for 125 off 149 deliveries. His knock was studded with 16 fours and two sixes. On the other end, Tom Clark scored 26 runs from 69 deliveries in the unbeaten 92-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
With 236/3 on board, Sussex have a 270-run lead. Earlier Middlesex posted 358 in reply to Sussex's first innings score of 392. Pujara took the attacking approach in the first innings as well but could only score a 10-ball 16.
On Day 4, Pujara will have a chance to score another double century in the ongoing season.
Before this, Pujara's previous centuries came against Derbyshire, Worcestershire and Durham. The double ton against Derbyshire also made him the second batter after former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin to score a double century in the County Championship.
