Pujara ton guides Sussex to victory at Somerset
Sussex 319 for six (Pujara 117*, Alsop 60) beat Somerset 318 for six (Umeed 119, Campher 101) by 4 wickets
A trademark century from Cheteshwar Pujara guided Sussex Sharks to a four-wicket Metro Bank One Day Cup victory over Somerset on the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
The Indian run-machine hit an unbeaten 117 off 113 balls as his facet chased down a goal of 319 with 11 balls to spare. Tom Alsop contributed 60 and Oli Carter a speedy 44.
Maiden Somerset a whole lot from Andy Umeed (119) and Curtis Campher (101) had propelled their group to 318 for six after successful the toss, Fynn Hudson-Prentice claiming 3 for 50.
But it appeared not more than a par complete in heat sunshine on a flat batting pitch and the Sharks ran it down comfortably to attain their first win within the competitors on the fourth try.
Excellent opening spells by Sean Hunt and Hudson-Prentice restricted Somerset to 36 for 1 off 10 overs, George Thomas caught behind off the latter for 5 and Umeed enjoying and lacking on quite a few events.
Hudson-Prentice had George Bartlett caught by wicketkeeper Carter, driving at a full-length ball and when James Rew, on 22, lofted a catch to long-off to provide off-spinner Jack Carson his first wicket, Somerset had been 80 for 3 within the twentieth over.
Umeed recovered from his unsure begin and set about bettering his career-best List A rating of 77, made within the earlier recreation in opposition to Northamptonshire. The opener reached a 68-ball fifty with a 4 by way of mid-wicket off Henry Crocombe.
Campher greeted the introduction of leg-spinner Archie Lenham by dispatching his second ball for six over mid-wicket on his solution to a 45-ball half-century and Umeed adopted swimsuit off the identical bowler because the pair raised the tempo.
Umeed produced a succession of sweetly-timed strokes in shifting to his maiden List 100, off 115 balls, with 9 fours and a pair of sixes.
The stand with Campher was price 163 from 23 overs when Umeed received an inside edge onto his stumps off Hudson-Prentice to make the rating 243 for 4.
Campher reached his ton off 79 balls, with 9 fours and three sixes, earlier than being caught at long-on off Carson, and skipper Sean Dickson’s speedy 40 on the finish of the innings ensured his facet of a aggressive complete.
Somerset gave the brand new ball to debutant James (JT) Langridge and the 17-year-old left-arm seamer didn’t disappoint, taking a wicket in his second over as Tom Haines sliced a catch to deep backward sq..
It was 47 for two when Tom Clark edged a pull shot off Jack Brooks to wicketkeeper Rew. But by then Alsop was properly set and it appeared inevitable that Pujara would flourish within the afternoon sunshine.
So it proved, because the pair added 92 in 15 overs with barely a false shot, Alsop reaching a 49-ball half-century earlier than nicking a ball from medium-pacer George Thomas and seeing Rew take a wonderful catch standing as much as the stumps.
Pujara adopted Alsop to fifty, additionally off 49 balls, the Indian maestro calmly selecting gaps within the discipline to maintain the Sharks up with the required run fee. But the Sharks misplaced a fourth wicket when James Coles was bowled for 21, pushing ahead to the left-arm spin of Josh Thomas, youthful brother of George.
Hudson-Prentice appeared unfortunate to be judged lbw aiming a reverse sweep at Josh Thomas and at 202 for 5 within the thirty fourth over Sharks’ hopes rested with Pujara.
Carter injected a late surge, smacking 4 fours and a pair of sixes, together with one wonderful tennis shot that cleared the ropes over long-off, proving a great foil for Pujara, who coasted to his sixteenth List A century off 105 balls, barely seeming to take a threat.