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Nitish Reddy Scores Maiden Test Century, Leads India’s Resilient Fightback at MCG
Team Finance Saathi
28/Dec/2024
What's covered under the Article:
- Nitish Reddy scores a maiden Test century at the MCG.
- India reduces the deficit to 116 runs with a crucial eighth-wicket partnership.
- Pant and Jadeja's dismissals put India in a precarious position before Reddy’s rescue act.
On Day 3 of the 2024 MCG Test, Nitish Reddy repaid the faith shown in him by the Indian management with a calm and gritty knock that saw him score his maiden Test century. Coming in at a challenging score of 191/6, Reddy formed a record eighth-wicket stand with Washington Sundar, contributing a valuable 105 runs* to help India recover from a potentially disastrous position.
By Tea, India had reduced the deficit to 116 runs, thanks to the 32.1-over partnership between Reddy and Sundar, who together weathered the storm and defied the Australian bowlers. Sundar supported Reddy superbly, scoring a composed 40 runs off 115 balls while Reddy exhibited remarkable control, scoring his maiden Test fifty and now standing at 105 runs*, just 15 runs short of a century.
Reddy’s Knock: Despite the pressure, Reddy batted at a brisk 71.43 run rate, playing shots with precision but rarely indulging in risks. He resisted the urge to play the ramp shot against the short deliveries from Pat Cummins, a mode of dismissal that had cost him in Adelaide. When Reddy was struck on the glove by a short ball, he refused to take the bait, opting instead to play with more caution. His confidence was evident from the start as he played his drives against the quicks and took on Nathan Lyon. The defining moment of his innings came when he lofted Scott Boland over mid-on for a boundary, taking him to his first Test century.
Pant and Jadeja's Dismissals: The partnership between Reddy and Sundar became even more significant after the dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, two key Indian batters. Pant was dismissed while attempting to lap Boland over the leg side but top-edged the ball to Nathan Lyon at third man. Jadeja, who had been playing a patient knock, was dismissed by Lyon through a well-executed tactic. Lyon bowled a quicker delivery to trap Jadeja leg before after sending him back on the defensive foot. With India at 221/7, Australia had hopes of wrapping up India’s innings quickly. However, Reddy and Sundar put paid to those hopes, forcing Australia to take the second new ball for the first time in eight Tests.
Impact of Reddy's Century: As Reddy crossed the line for his century, the emotional celebration of his father in the stands—tears in his eyes as he prayed—was a moment that would remain etched in the memories of all cricket fans. This remarkable knock has not only secured India’s position in the game but also established Reddy as one of the future stars of Indian cricket. India’s deficit, which had been at a daunting 148 runs earlier, was now narrowed to 116 runs, keeping India’s hopes alive.
With India’s score at 358/9 (116 overs) and Nitish Reddy still unbeaten on *105, India is in a better position to stage a fightback as they trail Australia’s total of 474. Scott Boland, the pick of the bowlers for Australia, has taken 3 wickets for 49 runs, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered a superb spell earlier, taking 4 wickets for 99.
Brief Scores:
- India: 358/9 (Nitish Reddy 105*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 82; Scott Boland 3-49)
- Australia: 474 (Steve Smith 140, Marnus Labuschagne 72; Jasprit Bumrah 4-99)
Youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century in Australia:
- Nitish Reddy – 21 years, 216 days (Melbourne 2024)