India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy celebrates his fifty runs during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Young Nitish Kumar Reddy was going strong on an unbeaten 85 to keep India in the contest against Australia on the third day of the fourth Test on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Thanks to Reddy’s 119-ball knock and Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 40, India reached 326 for seven when bad light and a drizzle forced the umpires to take tea before the scheduled time at the MCG.
Reddy has been by far India’s most consistent batter in the series and the maiden Test fifty couldn’t have come at a more opportune time and that too at an iconic venue.
Washington, at the other end, grew in confidence and trusted his defence apart from punishing the loose deliveries.
It did help that the drop-in surface at the MCG got better for batting as the match progressed.
This was after India lost the overnight pair of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja before reaching 244 for seven at lunch.
India, who started the day on 164 for five and 310 runs in arrears, were helped by the unbroken 105-run eight-wicket partnership between Reddy and Washington.
Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar were batting on 40 and 5 respectively when lunch break was called.
However, India managed to reach 244 for seven by lunch, with Nitish Rana on 40, fighting to keep his side afloat. Australia’s dominance continues.
Brief scores: Australia 1st innings: 474 India 1st innings: 326 for seven in 97 overs (Nitish Reddy batting 85, Yashasvi Jasiwal 82, Washington Sundar batting 40; Scott Boland 3/49).
Bowling: Mitchell Starc 17-0-64-0, Pat Cummins 20-4 -70-2, Scott Boland 17-4-37-3, Nathan Lyon 15-2-50-1, Mitchell Marsh 3-0-15-0, Travis Head 1-0-6-0.
Published – December 28, 2024 07:21 am IST