Sussex 328 for 4 (Pujara 115*, Alsop 135) vs Middlesex
Alsop, with 135, batted sensibly alongside Pujara – the India star registering his fifth LV= Insurance County Championship hundred of the season to shut on 115 not out and put the guests firmly in management.
Home skipper Tim Murtagh gambled on a greenish floor offering early help to the seamers – however that by no means materialised as his aspect toiled away in sweltering circumstances with little success.
The Sussex pair accrued a 3rd-wicket partnership of 219 earlier than Tom Helm, who completed with 3 for 63, struck late on by dismissing Alsop and nightwatcher Archie Lenham within the area of 4 balls.
Middlesex handed a debut to Pieter Malan, lastly accessible after untangling the crimson tape that had delayed the approval of his visa, however the South African’s first contribution was to fumble a canopy drive from Tom Clark over the rope.
Murtagh, who did acquire some intermittent swing in the course of the opening hour, made the preliminary breakthrough with a straight supply that pinned the in-kind Ali Orr in entrance of his stumps for 7.
However, that was Middlesex’s solitary success previous to lunch, with Alsop wanting assured on the entrance foot and making the most of the quick boundary as he overtook his associate.
Helm switched to the Nursery End after the interval and instantly persuaded Alsop to edge to Sam Robson at second slip, just for a no-ball to be signalled.
The second-wicket pair went on to increase their alliance to 81, however Helm lastly gained some reward for his perseverance as Clark (33) slashed exterior off stump and this time Robson flung himself to his left to take a pointy one-handed catch.
That heralded the doorway of Pujara and, following a measured begin, Sussex’s stand-in captain switched to attacking mode, advancing down the wicket to punch Luke Hollman to the midwicket boundary.
Having reached his half-century, Pujara introduced up the 100 partnership by slamming Malan into the grandstand for the primary six of the sport as Sussex continued piling up runs with out providing their tiring hosts a sniff of an opportunity.
Alsop was the primary to a few figures – his third ton of the marketing campaign and second in as many video games – earlier than his associate adopted go well with, pushing Murtagh for a single instantly after the brand new ball had been taken.
Middlesex carried out tidily sufficient with it, however not often seemed like discovering a method via till Helm had Alsop caught behind off a rising supply after which eliminated Lenham, with Robson holding on once more within the slips.