LONDON: India’s Cheteshwar Pujara scored his second double hundred in three matches on Saturday as he shared a century stand with Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan for English county Sussex.
Pujara made 203 — his third century in three matches for Sussex — with wicketkeeper Rizwan marking his home debut for the south coast club with 79.
The pair put on 154 for the sixth wicket at Hove as Sussex piled up an imposing 538 in reply to Durham’s first innings 223 in the Second Division of English cricket’s red-ball County Championship.
Durham, however, ended the third day of four with hopes of holding out for a draw at 169 for none in their second innings.
That Pujara and Rizwan are both at Sussex is a rare example of Indian and Pakistani cricketers turning out for the same team.
India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that authorities blamed on Pakistani militants and the teams now only play each other in multination events.
The South Asian rivals have not faced each other in a bilateral series since Pakistan toured India in 2012/13 for a set of one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches during a brief thaw in relations.
Pakistan’s stars also do not play in the Indian Premier League, the world’s most high-profile Twenty20 competition, which is currently taking place in India.
In the First Division, uncapped Hampshire batsman Nick Gubbins did his hopes of making an England debut no harm by scoring his second century of the match against a Lancashire attack led by James Anderson.
The left-hander followed up his 101 not out in the first innings with 130 to leave Hampshire well-placed at the Ageas Bowl, for all that Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker was bowling for Lancashire.
Hampshire were eventually dismissed for 344 and at stumps Lancashire were nine for none, chasing a target of 351 for victory.
Gubbins, 28, made his name with 1,409 runs, including four hundreds, as Middlesex won the First Division title in 2016 only for the runs to dry up the following season.
But a move south to Hampshire last year appears to have rejuvenated Gubbins and he is giving an England set-up now headed up by managing director Rob Key and new Test captain Ben Stokes a remainder of his talent.
India’s Pujara and Pakistan’s Rizwan share Sussex century stand
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India’s Pujara and Pakistan’s Rizwan share Sussex century stand
- Indian and Pakistani cricketers rarely play for the same international team
- The bilateral cricket ties between the two nations were severed in 2008
Newcastle pounce on PSV errors to boost Champions League last-16 bid
- Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes
- PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle climbed into position to reach the Champions League last 16 by punishing PSV Eindhoven’s defensive blunders for a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa, on his first Champions League start, and Anthony Gordon struck inside the opening half an hour after the Dutch champions played themselves into trouble.
Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring for his fifth goal in as many games just after the hour mark.
“I thought it was one of our best individual performances from a lot of the players for a while,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes that forced the Brazilian off just before half-time.
Guimaraes could be a big miss for when Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final round of league phase fixtures, hoping to secure a top-eight finish.
Newcastle sit in the top eight only on goal difference and will likely need to beat the holders on home soil to avoid the play-off round.
Wissa rewarded Howe’s faith for starting him ahead of Nick Woltemade up front with a goal and an assist on what the DR Congo international described as a “special night.”
Signed from Brentford in September, Wissa spent the majority of his career in the lower tiers of French and English football.
“Honestly, unbelievable. That’s why I joined the club... I almost cried,” said Wissa on hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch.
“Very emotional. 29 years old, I never believed to be here and so now I’m enjoying every single minute.”
Wissa swept in his first goal in European competition from Joelinton’s pass after a poor clearance by PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Peter Bosz’s men won 4-1 away at Liverpool and hit Napoli for six earlier in the league phase, but are still at risk of missing out on a place in the top 24, which would secure progress to the play-off round.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall again for the second when Yarek Gasiorowski’s underhit backpass allowed Wissa to square for Gordon to roll into an empty net.
The England international now has six goals in the Champions League this season, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the battle to be the competition’s top goalscorer.
However, a fine half for the home side ended badly when Guimaraes needed lengthy treatment after colliding with Kovar at a corner and was eventually replaced.
Howe’s options in midfield and defense were already depleted by a lengthy injury list amid a gruelling schedule with Newcastle still alive in four competitions.
However, up front he is spoiled for choice with Barnes in fine form since the turn of the year.
The 28-year-old burst through the static PSV defense to fire in his 12th goal of the season 25 minutes from time.
Saudi-backed Newcastle are one of five Premier League teams among the top eight as it stands as the English sides flex their financial muscle in Europe’s elite competition.
But they will have to finish the job against another of the continent’s wealthiest clubs when they travel to Qatari-owned PSG, aiming to deny the holders direct qualification for the last 16.
