Cheteshwar Pujara’s stupendous run as Sussex captain in the ongoing One Day domestic tournament in England came to an end on August 30. Sussex bowed out of the tournament with a comprehensive 65-run loss to Lancashire in the semi-final at County Ground, Hove. Reacting to the team’s loss, Pujara shortly put out a tweet.
“Quite unfortunate we didn't see this one through, but mighty proud of the team's performance throughout the Royal London Cup campaign! Had a memorable run with Sussex,” Pujara wrote in a tweet.
The veteran Indian batter had a sensational run in the tournament. He scored 624 runs from nine games at an average of 89.14 including three centuries. Contrary to his Test player image, he scored runs at a strike rate of 11.63. He also hit as many as 11 sixes in the season. He finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. His highest score in the season was 174.
However, in the semi-final he struggled to score. In the run chase of 320, he could score just 10 runs from 31 deliveries and got out leg before wicket to George Balderson. He walked out to bat in the 22nd over.
Sussex were in the game as their run rate was just below six runs per over. In the middle overs they lost wickets at regular intervals. Apart from Alistair Orr (71) and Tom Haines, no other Sussex batter impressed as they got all out for 254 in the 47th over.
Earlier, Dane Vilas' 99-ball 121 and half-centuries from George Lavelle and Danny Lamb helped Lancashire post 319/8 despite getting reduced to 64/4 in the 13th over.
In the other semi-final fixture, Kent beat Hampshire by three wickets as they chased down a challenging total of 311 with one over to spare. 46-year-old Darren Stevens took Kent home with a 65-ball 84 including 11 fours and three sixes.
