Pujara holds his nerve to steer Sussex top of the table
A thrilling finish at Hove made up for four games ending in damp draws. After a stoical seventhwicket partnership of 87 by Miles Hammond (77) and Zafar Gohar (52), plus some late Zaman Akhter pyrotechnics, Gloucestershire were able to set Sussex 144. Easy on paper, perhaps, but Zafar had other ideas. Short, athletic, with a brisk yet fluid approach to the crease, like a postman from the Royal Ballet, he whittled through Sussex’s top order, who were eager for runs with rain in the air. When Fynn Hudson-Prentice swept and was pinned on the pads, Sussex were wobbling at 115 for six. The serene Cheteshwar Pujara, however, sailed them home. Zafar finished with five for 59; Sussex sit on top of Division Two after three rounds.
Surrey ironed out any creases with a first win of the season, beating Kent by an innings and 37 runs. Kent held up the victory parade till mid-afternoon but four wickets for Dan Worrall and three for Cameron Steel sealed the deal – Steel remains the leading Championship wicket taker with 20. Matt Parkinson was the last man out, for 39, his highest first-class score, and Joey Evison made 53.
No play was possible at all at Wantage Road or Derby and the rain also spoiled things at the Rose Bowl – where Rob Yates was unbeaten on 84 as Warwickshire chased quick runs against Hampshire. Every member of Warwickshire’s top three now averages over 100. Only nine overs were possible at Taunton where Joe Clarke and Will Young’s third-wicket partnership remained unbroken, finally settling on 392.
Durham have announced the arrival of Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle to play in the next six Championship games – it will be Siddle’s fifth county. He replaces fellow Victorian Scott Boland, who sustained a heel injury after playing just one match.