India's veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara continued his impressive form in the County Championship this season. On Saturday, May 25, he scored his second century of the season for Sussex against Middlesex. This match was played at the historic Lord's cricket ground in London. This century was a significant one for Pujara's overall First-Class career as well. It marked his 65th First-Class hundred, and his 10th for Sussex. With this achievement, he finds himself just behind some of the Indian batting legends. Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar both have 81 first-class centuries, while Rahul Dravid has 68.
Earlier this year in February, Pujara had already secured his place among the greats of Indian domestic cricket. He became only the fourth batsman to score over 20,000 runs in first-class cricket. The 35-year-old batsman reached this milestone in 260 matches, maintaining an impressive average of 51.96 runs per innings.
Pujara's solid century for Sussex
Pujara's knock was a well-constructed innings. He reached his century in 256 deliveries, showcasing his characteristic patience and focus. The innings was decorated with 12 boundaries, adding some momentum to the Sussex scoreboard. Unfortunately, Pujara's time at the crease came to an end thanks to Middlesex's left-arm orthodox bowler, Nathan Fernandes. Fernandes managed to dismiss Pujara after he had scored a commendable 129 runs in 302 balls.
Despite this dismissal, Sussex remains in a strong position in the County Championship. They currently sit at the top of the Division Two table with 99 points. This impressive performance comes after seven games played in the season, with Sussex recording three wins, two draws, and just one loss so far.
Sussex are in a commanding position thanks to Pujara's century and a vital contribution from their captain, John Simpson, who is also unbeaten on 120. This strong batting performance has pushed the team's score past the 400-run mark, putting them on track for a massive first-innings total.
The season started with a slightly bumpy road for Sussex, as they drew their opening two matches in Division Two. However, they bounced back impressively, securing consecutive wins against Gloucestershire and Derbyshire. This winning streak has propelled them to the top of the table.
Looking ahead, Sussex will be keen to capitalize on their strong batting start. Pujara, undoubtedly hungry for more runs, will be a key factor in their continued success. It's worth noting that Pujara hasn't featured in international cricket since the World Test Championship final against Australia last season. The emergence of young talents like Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel in the recent Test series against England might have impacted his selection for the national team.
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