Cheteshwar Pujara hits 3rd century at One Day Cup against Middlesex; smashes 132 runs in 90 balls

ANI

Hove (UK), August 24

Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara registered his third century in the One Day Cup against Middlesex at Hove on Tuesday.

Pujara unleashed a rare side of him during his side Sussex’s match against Middlesex, smashing 132 runs in just 90 balls with 20 fours and two sixes. He was striking runs at a great strike rate of 146.66.

Pujara has been an amazing form for his county side.

At the One Day Cup so far, Pujara has smashed 614 runs in eight innings at an average of 102.33. Three centuries and two half-centuries have come out of his bat. His best score is 174, which he hit against Surrey. It is also the highest score by a Sussex player in List A cricket.

The batter is the second highest run-scorer in the tournament so far, behind Stephen Sean Eskinazi of Middlesex, who has scored 658 runs in eight games.

Pujara has also showcased his greatness for Sussex in the longest format as well in the County Championship Division two.

In 13 innings across eight games in the championship, he has scored 1,094 runs at an average of 109.40. His best individual score is 231. Five hundred-plus scores have come out of his bat in the championship. He sits at the second spot in batting charts here as well.

Coming to his match against Middlesex, centuries from Tom Alsop (189*) and Pujara (132) helped Sussex reach 400/4 in their 50 overs. Alsop and Pujara had a 240-run stand for the third wicket. Max Harris was the pick of the bowlers for Middlesex with 3/56.

Chasing 401, Middlesex did not look much of a threat. Wicketkeeper-batter Joe Cracknell scored a solid 71 while Martin Andersson scored 30. But Henry Crocombe (3/33) and Delray Rawlins (3/61) were just too good for their opponent and Middlesex were bundled out for 243, losing the game by 157 runs.