Highlights: Cheteshwar Pujara records 201* on Sussex debut
Cheteshwar Pujara smacked 201* on his Sussex debut to help his team to a draw after Derbyshire enforced follow on in a Division 2 game. He made his Sussex debut alongside Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Pujara joined an elite batting list during his knock. He became only the 2nd Indian batsman to score a double century in County Cricket. This is also the first ever double-century by a debutant for Sussex.
Previously Mohammad Azharuddin registered two double centuries for Derbyshire. He scored his first double ton in 1991 when he scored 212 against Leicestershire and then in 1994 against Durham when he piled 205 runs.
Pujara’s 201* was his 14th first-class double century. He surpassed legendary cricketer Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 13 to become the Asian batsman with the most double centuries.
201* is now the highest individual score on first-class debut for Sussex. The previous highest was 152 runs by Joe Gatting against Cambridge UCCE in 2009.
Pujara put on a 351 run-stand for the third wicket with Sussex captain Tom Haines. The 23-year old skipper recorded his career highest first-class score of 243 runs.
Earlier Derbyshire’s Pakistan sign-up Shan Masood scored a 340-ball 239 as the home team gathered 505 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.
This was the third instance in a County Championship history where three individual double-tons have been recorded in a match.
Pujara was recently left out of India’s Test squad that faced Sri Lanka at home after a string of low scores. He therefore has plenty to prove in order to put his name back in reckoning for the national Test side.
Brief Match Summary: Derbyshire vs Sussex
Derbyshire 1st innings: 505/8 declared – Shan Masood 239, Wayne Madsen 111, Henry Crocombe 3-131
Sussex 1st innings: 174 all out – Tom Haines 41, Mohammad Rizwan 22, Nick Potts 3-43, Sam Conenrs 3-47
Sussex 2nd innings: 513/3 – Tom Haines 243, Cheteshwar Pujara 201*, Sam Conners 1-67
Result: Match Drawn
