County Championship: Cheteshwar Pujara stands tall in Bristol with scintillating ton against Gloucestershire

Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara scored a century against Gloucestershire on Day 3 of the English county championship, which is being played at the County Ground in Bristol. Gloucestershire won the toss and invited Sussex to bat first. Sussex ended their innings, scoring 455/5 on Day 3.

Sussex reached 47 for one at stumps on Day 1 after losing opener Tom Haines (3). Opener Ali Orr (36) was dismissed on the second day, and skipper Pujara took the lead for Sussex. After losing openers Orr and Tom Haines, Pujara led his side from the front with Tom Alsop and added 100 runs for the third wicket. When Alsop was dismissed for 67 runs, Pujara received assistance from James Coles, and the pair worked together to build an impressive total in the first innings.

The visitors, however, increased their first-inning total from 47 for one to 302 for four, with India Test legend Pujara leading the way with 99*.  Apart from Pujara and Alsop, James Coles has also played a brilliant cameo, scoring a career-best 74 runs.

As soon as the third day started, Pujara scored the century when Sussex resumed the play with 302/4. This was his seventh century for the county club Sussex from 11 matches and his second this season. In addition, it was the Indian ace batter’s 58th first-class ton.

When Sussex ended their innings on Day 3, Pujara scored a total of 151 runs. Pujara’s 151 and Oil Carter’s 74 powered Sussex to post 455 runs in the first innings against Gloucestershire.

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With this century, Pujara surpassed former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer’s tally of 57 tons in first-class cricket. The 35-year-old is now in the fourth spot among the Indians with the most first-class centuries. Above Pujara on the list are Sachin Tendulkar (81), Sunil Gavaskar (81), Rahul Dravid (68) and Vijay Hazare (60).