MELBOURNE: In a Boxing Day clash energised by next-gen talent, India’s rookie all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy celebrated a stirring, maiden century on Saturday to give the visitors hope of saving the fourth Test against Australia.

The 21-year-old sent Indian fans into delirium as he strode forward to thump Scott Boland over mid-on for four to raise his hundred late on the third day, bringing tears to the eyes of his overjoyed father in the Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd.

Reddy strode off unbeaten on 105 when bad light and rain brought stumps an hour early, with India 358 for nine, still trailing Australia’s first innings 474 by 116 runs.

Taking full advantage of a docile wicket, Reddy built a vital 127-run partnership for the eight wicket with Washington Sundar (50) that dragged India back from the brink.

India were 221 for seven when they came together, still 54 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

The tourists still have hard yards ahead to deny Australia victory and a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series, with Sydney hosting the final match in the New Year.

But the players were buoyed by Reddy’s composure throughout his unbeaten, 176-ball knock.

“One thing for sure, his mentality is very, very strong,” Sundar told reporters. “I’ve known him for quite a few years. The way he went about his business today was amazing. He gives a hundred percent, that’s his approach to life. I’m sure this hundred will be talked about and remembered for a very, very long time.”

Reddy will return on day four hoping to grab a few more runs with tailender Mohammed Siraj, who was two not out.

Siraj enjoyed one of the day’s biggest cheers when he blocked out Australia’s paceman-captain Pat Cummins for three balls to allow Reddy, who was stranded at the non-striker’s end on 99, to complete his ton in the next over.

In just his fourth test, Reddy celebrated his hundred by planting his bat in the turf, putting his helmet over the handle and saluting the sky as a huge crowd of 83,073 gave him a standing ovation.

The MCG crowds have now seen two young talents make their mark this Test, with Australia’s 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas producing a thrilling knock of 60 on day one of his debut.

Seamers Boland, who took 3-57, and Cummins with 3-86 were the most productive Australian bowlers in conditions that offered little assistance despite overcast skies.

Boland said Reddy was a “nice player” whose range of shots proved hard to contain.

“It looks like he’s got pretty much every shot in the book,” Boland said. “Obviously he’s playing really nicely. Coming in down in the lower order, he’s trying to put the pressure back on us.”

Boland said team-mate Mitchell Starc was bowling with a “niggle in his back or rib” but expected the paceman would continue to play a full part in the Test. “He’s someone who can still bowl at the same pace even when he is really sore, which is a great trait to have.”

India lost Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the opening session.

Pant’s innings of 28 ended when he over-balanced while attempting a ramp shot for six off Boland, top-edging the ball to third man where off-spinner Nathan Lyon held the catch.

Jadeja was trapped lbw when on 17, playing back to a Lyon delivery that skidded on.

Reddy resurrected India with an innings laden with attractive shots and meaty slogging.

He raised his first test fifty with a lofted square drive, despatching a loose Starc delivery to the ropes for four.

He later brought up the 100-partnership with Sundar with a sumptuous cover drive, made all the more sweet for Indian fans when Lyon stumbled at the boundary to concede a four.

The recalled Sundar’s dogged knock off 162 balls ended when he was caught at first slip by Steve Smith from Lyon.

It ended a partnership that traversed the entire second session after India had advanced from 164-5 overnight to 244-7 at lunch.

Boland was confident Australia could bat India out of the game after dominating the opening days. “We’re in a pretty strong position. Obviously it could have been better but Test match cricket ebbs and flows,” he said.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st innings) 474

INDIA (1st innings; overnight 164-5):

Y. Jaiswal run out (Cummins) 82

R. Sharma c Boland b Cummins 3

L. Rahul b Cummins 24

V. Kohli c Carey b Boland 36

A. Deep c Lyon b Boland 0

R. Pant c Lyon b Boland 28

R. Jadeja lbw Lyon 17

N. Kumar Reddy not out 105

W. Sundar c Smith b Lyon 50

J. Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0

M. Siraj not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-4, W-5) 11

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 116 overs) 358

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Sharma), 2-51 (Rahul), 3-153 (Jaiswal), 4-154 (Kohli), 5-159 (Deep), 6-191 (Pant), 7-221 (Jadeja), 8-348 (Sundar), 9-350 (Bumrah).

BOWLING: M, Starc 25-2-86-0 (3nb), P. Cummins 27-6-86-3 (1w), S. Boland 27-7-57-3, N. Lyon 27-4-88-2, M. Marsh 7-1-28-0 (1nb), T. Head 3-0-11-0.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2024