London

Indian middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara continued his golden run in English county cricket slamming his third double century of the season for Sussex against Middlesex at Lord's on Wednesday.

He is now the first Indian batter to hit a double hundred in first-class cricket at the historic venue.

Pujara has scored three double centuries in seven games for his side this season.

In Wednesday’s match he hit 231 runs off 403 balls with 21 fours and three sixes before he was the last man dismissed in the innings.

34-year-old Pujara was dropped from the Indian Test squad earlier this year due to an inconsistent run of form. But he has made a strong statement with his form in the County Championship.

Ever since being signed as an overseas batter replacing the Australian batter Travis Head by Sussex, Pujara has been impressive for his side.

He scored 6 and 201 not out against Derbyshire, 109 and 12 against Worcestershire and 203 against Durham.

Following these performances, he was recalled to the national Test squad and played India's fifth and final Test against England at Edgbaston in July, in which he scored 13 and 66. India lost that test by seven wickets.

After the Edgbaston test, he made his return to county cricket, hitting 46 against Leicestershire followed by this massive double hundred against Middlesex on Wednesday.

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In his 10 county innings so far, he has scored a total of 997 runs at an average of 124.62. He has hit 5 hundred-plus scores for his side this season.