Nitish Kumar Reddy starred as he led India’s fightback against Australia on the third day of the fourth Test, taking the first wicket to end the day unbeaten on 105.
India (358-9) still trailed Australia (474) by 116 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after Saturday’s play, but avoided an even bigger deficit thanks to Reddy.
The 21-year-old is playing in just his fourth Test but, batting at No.8, powered India from a vulnerable 221-7, putting together a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50).
The two lost by two runs to equal the eighth-ball record for India against Australia of 129 set by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2008.
All-rounder Sundar bowled a tough chance at second slip on 18, which was dropped by a leaping Steve Smith as Mitchell Starc bowled the first with the second new ball.
India’s Washington Sundar (left) and Reddy put on 127 for the eighth wicket
With Reddy on 97, Sundar’s 162-ball knock finally ended when he was caught at slip off the bowling of Nathan Lyon (2-88) at 348-8. Patient Sundar hit only one boundary.
Reddy played a sublime cover action to move on to 99, but lost Jasprit Bumrah for a duck, caught at first slip by Pat Cummins (3-86), followed by 350-9.
Mohammed Siraj had to survive three deliveries from Cummins, allowing Reddy to seize the moment and complete his century in the follow-up with a drive to the boundary, leading to a deafening roar from the thousands of Indian fans in the stands.
Reddy’s hundred came off 171 deliveries and included 10 fours and one six. Just nine more shots were bowled before play was delayed and then abandoned due to poor light and rain, with Reddy unbeaten on 105.
Reddy recognized the crowd as he walked off the field after poor light halted play
Resuming on 164-5 on Saturday, India slumped to 244-7 at lunch, losing the wickets of Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17).
However, Australia’s hopes of quickly overtaking India’s tail faded as 82 runs were added without loss in the post-lunch session. Cummins and Scott Boland (3-57) took three wickets each for Australia.
Australia’s first innings total of 474 was highlighted by Smith’s 34th century. Smith’s 140 took the 35-year-old to equal seventh for the most hundreds in Test cricket.
The five-match series was leveled at 1-1 after a draw in Brisbane. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to begin on January 3 in Sydney.
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