COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road
Worcestershire v Sussex
11-14 June
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Worcestershire 288 and 120-3 Sussex 620-9 dec(Worcs 4pts, Sussex 8pts)

Chawla only signed for Sussex on Thursday

Piyush Chawla scored a thrilling debut century and then took two wickets as Sussex took control on day three against Worcestershire at New Road.

Resuming at 409-5, Sussex made the most of some ragged bowling as Dwayne Smith weighed in with a quick-fire 77.

Chawla then hit an unbeaten 102 off 87 balls in a total of 620-9dec to give Sussex a first-innings lead of 332.

The leg-spinner also took 2-39 as Worcestershire closed at 120-3, still needing 212 to avoid an innings defeat.

Worcestershire lost Stephen Moore to the bowling of James Kirtley early on and that seemed to set the tone for a struggle.

Daryl Mitchell posted a gutsy undefeated 52 in 55 overs but Chawla kept Sussex on course for their first win of the season with lbw decisions against Vikram Solanki (33) and Ben Smith, who faced 35 balls for a single.

Earlier, Sussex blitzed the home bowling with some glorious strokeplay.

Already 121 ahead at the start of play, they completed two century partnerships as they added 211 in less than three hours.

Andrew Hodd and the hard-hitting Smith put on 115, and Kirtley and Chawla posted a rapid 105 in 19 overs.

Smith bludgeoned six fours and three sixes before he was caught on the boundary for 77 from 72 balls.

Chawla then took centre stage with a stylish innings that included three consecutive sixes of Moeen Ali's spin.

Ashley Noffke took all four Sussex wickets to fall but there was little for the home side to cheer on a day dominated by Chawla.

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