*** Young all-rounder shines with unbeaten 105, keeping India alive in gripping Test against Australia | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Young all-rounder shines with unbeaten 105, keeping India alive in gripping Test against Australia

AFP | Melbourne

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Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a defiant maiden century yesterday as India fought back to reach 358-9 on a rain-hit third day of the fourth Test against Australia. Rising all-rounder Reddy was applauded off the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 105 not out after rain ended play for the day midway through the final session.

Having provided much-needed stability to another shaky Indian batting effort, the 21-year-old will resume on Sunday alongside Mohammed Siraj, on two, with the first-innings deficit reduced to 116 runs. Australia’s push for a much bigger advantage after scoring 474 was stymied by Reddy and spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, who scored 50 as the pair put on 127 for the eighth wicket.

To the roar of a large contingent of Indian supporters among a record 83,073 third-day crowd at the MCG, Reddy lofted Scott Boland over mid-on to reach three figures just before play was halted. It was an innings memorable for resolute defence, mixed with classical strokeplay. Reddy faced 176 balls, hitting 10 fours and one six, continuing the fine batting form at number eight in the order that has marked his debut series. In his first six Test innings, he has scored 284 runs -- the most in the series by any Indian player -- at an average of 71.

Sundar described Reddy’s innings as “unbelievable” and said he always knew a century was well within his team-mate’s ability. “Mentally he’s very, very strong,” Sundar said. “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.”

Seamers Boland, who took 3-57, and Pat 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. “He’s playing nicely.

Coming in down in the lower order, he’s trying to put the pressure back on us.” Boland believed Australia were still well placed to push for victory, with the pitch still containing a “bit of nip” for the seamers.

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