AUS vs IND 2024/25, Australia vs India 4th Test, Day 3, Melbourne Match Report, December 26-30, 2024


India 358 for 9 (Reddy 105*, Washington 50, Boland 3-57, Cummins 3-86) Australia 474 for 116 runs

A defiant first Test century from Nitish Kumar Reddy, bred with No. 11 Mohammed Siraj for company, led an outstanding Indian rearguard at the MCG to give them hope of at least avoiding defeat in the fourth Test, although Australia were still ready to win. a significant lead in the first inning.
Reddy, who had shown his batting prowess at various stages of the series, arrived at the crease early on the third morning after a dismissal from Rishabh Pant that drew some strong reactions and was still there when bad light and rain closed early. He forged a stand of 127 in just under 48 overs with Washington Sundar to stop Australia in their tracks when they looked likely to take control of the game.
However, Reddy’s crowning moment came amid enormous tension after Washington was dismissed. In what appeared to be a miscommunication, he and Jasprit Bumrah came back for a second run off the last ball of an over that exposed No. 10 to Pat Cummins and he slipped as Reddy watched from the non-striker’s end. on 99. But Siraj was able to negotiate three deliveries from Cummins to huge applause from the Indian fans.
Now facing Scott Boland, Reddy defended two deliveries before unleashing a straight fly down the ground for a magnificent century, only the second of his first-class career. His father was in the crowd, among those on the edge of their seats as the milestone approached, and he couldn’t contain his excitement.

By the time the players left the field for the second time (rain had brought an early tea), Australia’s lead had been reduced to 116, much less than it looked on the cards when they had India at 221 for 7 before lunch. They still hope for a three-figure lead, but could now face a race against time to claim victory on a genuine course that has shown no significant signs of deterioration.

The second night ended with Australia taking 3 for 6 off Yashasvi Jaiswal, the ramifications of which were still hotly debated when play resumed, with India 310 behind. Pant led the score early on the third morning but fell in a headline-generating manner when he tried to take Boland over fine leg and built a lead to third. In a test that was dominated by Sam Konstas’ firsts, this was an example of when things go wrong.

Ravindra Jadeja played a largely defensive innings before being beaten by some superb bowling from Lyon who skated one to catch him lbw. It was only the fourth wicket of the series for Lyon but, having bounced back to dismiss Washington, he could still have a key role to play. When Jadeja fell, India were still 253 runs behind with the follow-on as the first objective when Washington joined Reddy, although there is almost no chance Cummins would have applied it.

Reddy had been positive when he arrived, quickly surpassing Jadeja’s score despite his partner having a 35-ball head start. Soon after Lyon removed Jadeja, Reddy jumped towards the spinner and sent it straight for six. His half-century came with a gritty backhander against Mitchell Starc and, as he had done earlier in the series, his technique shone like that of someone who will be further up the order as his career develops.

Washington, who played a vital role with the bat in the famous 2021 victory at the Gabba, was alert throughout, collecting his first and only boundary off his 103rd ball when he sent Starc through point with a classy drive. The selection of the additional all-rounders over Shubman Gill had been the subject of much debate, but there was little more they could have done with the bat to justify it.

Washington had a moment of fortune, in rather unusual circumstances, when he turned Starc down the leg side in the first over as the second new ball flew off the back of his bat towards second slip where Steven Smith, Taken by surprise that it was coming in his direction, he could not hold on and lunged to his right.

There was a worrying moment for Australia later when Starc caught him from behind mid-over. However, he appeared to emerge unscathed and continued to bowl at a good pace, although he ended the day wicketless from 25 overs as the quicks’ workload increased ahead of the final Test in Sydney.

Mitchell Marsh was used for a period either side of an extended tea break, but his average pace of 120km/h was unconvincing, although it played a part in drying up the scoring early in the final session.

The eighth-wicket pair showed little sign of being separated until Lyon got one bounced against Washington, shouldering the bat to Smith at slip. At that point, Reddy was on 97 and the most exciting minutes of the day were about to unfold.



Source link

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here