Pujara is positive after rain hits hopes
Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara reflected on a rain-ruined county championship draw with Gloucestershire at Bristol and declared: We’re getting better as a team.
Pujara’s men ran out of time to force a win between rain interruptions after making the hosts follow on. Sussex racked up 455-5 in the first innings before bowling out Gloucs for 248 – before reducing them to 121-4 by the time the teams called a halt.
Pujara, who welcomes Australian Steve Smith into the camp this week for a month-long stint with the county, said: “It was difficult batting against the new ball, so it was important we made a good start to the match. Ali Orr and Tom Alsop ensured that and made my life easier.
“At the start of my innings I had to defend well and play a lot of dot balls. There was cloud cover, but it was easier when we saw off the new ball.
“I don’t think I have ever gone to bed after a day’s play in a first class match on 99 not out before. But I did so on 98 during a Test Match against England in 2012 and went on to get a double hundred.
“James Coles batted brilliantly with me and really took his chance coming into the side. He came in with us three down, but played his natural game as an attacking player and also bowled well.
“Nathan Mcandrew has been brilliant for us. He is likely to miss the next game because Steve Smith is coming in, but has been great and on that pitch got his line and length exactly right.
“We are getting better as a team. The one area we can improve on is fielding and when we start taking more catches our bowling attack will look even stronger.”