Indian cricketers continued to excel in County Cricket in England as Cheteshwar Pujara scored his third double century of the year for Sussex and spinner Navdeep Saini won a five-wicket haul on his debut for Kent.
As a result of his outstanding 231 in Sussex's first innings victory over Middlesex at Lord's on Wednesday, Pujara cemented his place in the club's annals.
Right arm fast Saini, In his Kent debut on Wednesday against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in Birmingham, was sensational, taking 5-72. Umesh Yadav, a Middlesex player and another Indian pacer, finished with statistics of 0-70 in 29 overs but failed to pick up a wicket in Sussex's opening innings.
India's Pujara The first batter from Sussex to score a double century at Lord's versus Middlesex was a test player. According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II, a Sussex batsman who played against the MCC 125 years ago, was the last Sussex player to score 200 at the home of cricket. He had earlier scored 201 without losing in the first game against Derby and 203 against Durham. His 16th double century in first-class cricket was this one.
Pujara, who is captaining the team in place of their regular skipper, batted for nearly nine hours on Tuesday, the majority of those in stifling heat as his marathon effort had begun 24 hours earlier during London's hottest day on record. Pujara led his team to 523 runs, surpassing Sussex's previous best score at Lord's of 522 from 2005.
Pujara faced 403 deliveries throughout his 231-run innings, hitting 21 fours and three sixes. He spent a total of 533 minutes at the wicket.
He was reserved at the beginning of the day, clearly worn out by his efforts the day before, but he went on to score 68 runs alongside Danial Ibrahim, 17, as Sussex bounced back from losing two early wickets and falling to 346/6.
In 400 minutes, the 34-year-old Pujara reached 150 thanks to another successful collaboration with Greek international Aristides Karvelas. Pujara continued on a run-scoring frenzy while Karvelas blocked one end, and he welcomed Hollman back by hoisting him into the Compton Stand. At 175 John Simpson failed to hold on to a precarious edge when Tim Murtagh was standing up to the stumps, giving him a life.
There were no jittery 190s since he twice drove Murtagh past mid-off for four before a single that landed on the on-side enabled him to reach his double century.
Before exiting for 231 and holing out to Mark Stoneman off Tom Helm, who finished 5-109, Pujara struck another six.
Saini was in equally deadly form as he finished his 18 overs with scores of 5-72. Chris Benjamin, Dan Mousley, Michael Burgess, Henry Brooks, and Craig Miles were among his victims. He contributed to Kent's ability to dismiss Warwickshire for 225 in 85.1 overs. Additionally, Saini, 29, finished up bowling 14 no-balls.