‘Captain’ Cheteshwar Pujara slams 3rd double ton in 7 games for Sussex

Cheteshwar Pujara, making his captaincy debut for Sussex, slammed an unbeaten double century (212 not out, 383b, 20x4, 2x6)- his third double ton in just seven games this season- to take his team to 494 for eight against on Day 2 against Middlesex at Lord’s on Wednesday. At the time of writing this, Pujara, who notched up his highest score of the season, was the third-highest run-getter in the County Championship Division 2.The 34-year-old has now scored 978 runs in seven games at a incredible average of 139.71, with his highest score being 203. His astonishing tally includes three double hundreds and two hundreds.

His sizzling form in County cricket had earned Pujara a recall to the Indian team for the fifth Test against England earlier this month. Amongst the Middlesex bowlers was India pacer Umesh Yadav, who was wicketless (0-70 in 29 overs). Saini, Sundar take fivers on County debutThe Indian players continue to enjoy a purple patch in the ongoing County season.

While Pujara is in the midst of a dream run for Sussex, off-spinner Washington Sundar and pacer Navdeep Saini picked up fivers on their County Championship debut. Taking a wicket off just his second ball, Sundar, returning from injury which had kept him out since the halfway stage of IPL-2022, made a flying start to his Lancashire stint, finishing with 5-76 in 22 overs to help bowl out Northamptonshire for 235 on Day Two at Northampton. Introduced in the 10th over, Sundar picked up his maiden wicket in the English County Championship off when Northamptonshire captain and New Zealand’s Test opener Will Young (2) edged a cut to ‘keeper Dane Vilas.