Cheteshwar Pujara's teammate Ali Orr cracked whip with his superlative double ton in the ongoing Royal London One Day Cup which spurred Sussex to an emphatic 201-run triumph over Somerset in Taunton.
The 21-year-old southpaw in his 206 off 161 blitzkrieg, smoked 11 sixes and 18 fours to help his side post a mammoth 397/5 after put to bat first.
Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 66 and Delray Rawlings 54 not out off just 23 deliveries. Orr became 35th batter to score double cent in One Day cricket.
In reply, the jolted Somerset were bowled out for 196 in 38.2 overs as they fell to a seventh defeat in as many group matches and their heaviest ever in List A cricket by a margin of runs. Only Andrew Umeed, with 56, offered much resistance.
The comprehensive win meant that Sussex spurred to the top of the Group A standings, edging Middlesex who had momentarily grabbed the pole position on Friday (August 19).
Orr eclipsed the previous highest individual innings by a Sharks player, the 174 made by Pujara against Surrey at Hove just five days earlier, and earned a share of fifth place among the top scorers ever in List A cricket.
Sussex opener Ali Orr said: “It was a very special day for me and one I certainly didn’t expect when I woke up this morning. Our coaches have been really helpful in giving me the confidence I need in this competition and from the start I backed myself to clear the short boundary if a ball was in my area.
“I took a blow in the face from a Kasey Aldridge delivery early on but I felt fine. The physio came on and asked me a few questions including where we were. I told him. ‘lovely sunny Taunton,’ so we had a smile and all was well.
“Batting with someone of Cheteshwar’s calibre helped. He is so composed and made me realise I had got to fifty quite quickly so I could relax a bit. Against Surrey at Hove, he went from 100 to 170 in no time so I trusted him when he felt I could do the same.
“I get emotional when I bat and sometimes too riled up if on the receiving end of some chat. He is so calm, with such a level mentality, that I can only try to model myself on him,” he further added.
