Cheteshwar Pujara was in fantastic form for Sussex in the County Cricket Championship, and the batter has made his mark in the Royal One Day cup too. Against Warwickshire, the batter smashed 107 off just 79 balls to take the team close to the target. Eventually, Warwickshire won the match by 4 runs defending a total of 310. Sussex ended up scoring 306 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of the innings.
In the 45th over, Cheteshwar Pujara smashed 22 runs. Liam Norwell stood helpless against the batter as the veteran Indian scored three fours, a six and two doubles off the six deliveries he bowled. It took him from 66 off 59 balls to 88 off 65 balls in no time.
4 2 4 2 6 4
TWENTY-TWO off the 47th over from @cheteshwar1. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jbBOKpgiTI
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 12, 2022
However, Pujara’s aggressive innings went in vain as his team lost the match by four runs. George Garrett came up with a brilliant last over to defend the total for Warwickshire.Â
Warwickshire outclass Sussex
The match was a beautiful outing at a beautiful Edgbaston stadium for Warwickshire as their skipper won the toss and elected to bat first. Warwickshire openers gave them a good start as they put on a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket. Robert Yates and Hamza Shaikh looked steady until the latter perished for twenty-five runs. Will Rhodes and Robert Yates joined hands to put on a 131-run stand for the second wicket.Â
Yates’ dismissal provided the space to pick up another scalp for Warwickshire. Robert Yates and Krunal Pandya gifted their wickets in a span of three balls. Thanks to Michael Burgess’ aggressive innings, Warwickshire managed to cross the 300-mark and put on a total of 310.Â
Chasing a mammoth total, the Sussex openers Harrison Ward and Ali Orr managed to put on thirty-five runs for the opening wicket. Tom Clark backed Orr and gave him a steady hand at the other hand. With Tom Clark perishing for just thirty runs, it was up to the skipper Pujara to get his back on track. The batter carried forward his form from the County Championship and looked rock-solid right from ball one.Â
Having banked on his defensive technique initially, Pujara went outside of his comfort zone on the 45th over and smashed 22 runs. The Indian legend crossed the three-figure mark off just 73 balls. His innings went in vain, as Warwickshire’s strike bowler George Garrett successfully defend 12 runs off the 50th over. Sussex has won two out of the four matches that they have played so far.
