County Championship 2022 Division II | Cheteshwar Pujara’s ton drives Sussex on Day 2

The seasoned campaigner Cheteshwar Pujara hit his third century of the ongoing season and drove Sussex to a 139-run lead at the end of Day 2 against Durham at Hove.  

On a sunny morning, Sussex began the day on 82/1, with Alastair Orr and Mason Crane at the crease. The right-arm pacer Matty Potts provided the first breakthrough for the visitors, with Orr adjudged LBW, and made his way back to the pavilion for 27 off 64 balls. 

The wily spinner, Crane, tried well to pose a resistance but soon perished by a peach of a delivery from Matt Salisbury for 13 off 61 balls, and the team at 108/3. 

After this dismissal, Tom Alsop and Cheteshwar Pujara were up to their task and were clinical with their approach to steer the team and did not provide enough chances to the opposition bowlers. 

The lead bowler of Durham, Chris Rushworth, missed out on the action for the whole day due to the concussion suffered on the opening day of the fixture. In his absence, the team stuttered to pick wickets at a regular interval. 

Alsop and Pujara stitched a 99-run stand, which managed to post a stable platform for the upcoming batters. Alsop was adjudged LBW off Liam Trevaskis for a well-made 66 off 129, comprising 10 fours. 

At the brink of the Tea session, Pujara displayed exquisite shots against spinners and slammed five boundaries off 2 overs. The partnership of 143 between the Indian batter and Tom Clark provided momentum to the home team, with the latter getting dismissed on 50 off 99. 

A total of 7 overs remained on the day when bad light stopped the play. At the end of Day 2, Pujara is batting at 128*, with the wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan (5*) at the crease. 

The home team already has a lead of 139 runs under their belt. They will look to extend it above 250 and invite Durham to face their talented bowling attack and secure their first victory this season. 

Sussex - 362/5 in 103 overs (1st innings)

Cheteshwar Pujara 128*, Mohammad Rizwan 5*;

Matty Potts 2/70

Durham - 223 all-out in 73.5 overs (1st innings)

Liam Trevaskis 88, Sean Dickson 38; 

Tom Clark 3/21