Youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a valiant century against Australia, his maiden international ton leading India’s fightback in the MCG Test. He was ably supported by Washington Sundar as the duo held a rearguard action on Day 3, with India battling back in the fourth Test against Australia. Sundar was equally defiant, making 50 off 162 ball before being dismissed by Lyon.
India is currently trailing by 123 runs. The pair batted through the second session in largely untroubled fashion, passing the follow-on mark and seeing off the second new ball to frustrate the home side, who have been in the driving seat since posting 474 in their first innings. They held up Australia’s push for a win that would put them 2-1 up going into the fifth and final Test in Sydney next week.
Batting at number eight in an Indian lineup that has largely struggled for runs, Reddy has been a shining light in his debut series. He mixed resolute defense with some classical straight-bat stroke play. Sundar, who missed the second and third Tests, was recalled primarily for his off-spin.
The 25-year-old survived a freakish chance when he was on 18. Attempting to flick a leg-sided delivery from Mitchell Starc, the ball flew off the back of the bat into the slip cordon, where a diving Steve Smith spilled a one-handed opportunity. India lost Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the first session, advancing from 164-5 overnight to 244-7 at lunch.
Seamer Scott Boland, who took 3-49, removed the aggressive.
