India made a solid comeback on Day 3 of the Melbourne Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy formed a crucial 105-run partnership. As a result, by Tea, India reached 326/7, trailing Australia by 148 runs. Sundar was unbeaten on 40*, while Reddy stood firm on 85*.
Solid Partnership in the Second Session
India resumed the second session at 244/7. From there, Sundar and Reddy added 82 runs in 24 overs without losing a wicket. This partnership was vital as it helped India recover when Australia seemed in control of the match.
Earlier in the session, Steve Smith dropped a tough catch off Sundar’s bat. The ball went toward Smith at second slip, but he couldn’t hold on. Consequently, Sundar was able to continue building his innings, which was a critical turning point for India.
Reddy’s Maiden Test Fifty
In the 83rd over, Reddy achieved his maiden Test fifty with a lofted shot for four. This milestone boosted his confidence, and he kept adding runs to the scoreboard. Moreover, in the 84th over, India avoided the follow-on, which gave them some breathing space.
India Reaches 300 Runs
Thanks to the partnership between Sundar and Reddy, India crossed the 300-run mark by the 92nd over. At this point, the conditions deteriorated as it started to drizzle, prompting the umpires to call for early tea. Notably, Reddy was nearing his first Test century, which raised hopes for India to improve their position in the game.
Struggles in the First Session
Earlier, India started Day 3 at 164/5, with Pant and Jadeja at the crease. However, they struggled to deal with the Australian bowlers. There were two run-out chances due to miscommunication, but Australia failed to capitalize on them. Shortly after, Scott Boland dismissed Pant for 28 runs in the 56th over, bringing Nitish Kumar Reddy to the crease. Unfortunately, Jadeja fell to Nathan Lyon for 17 runs in the 65th over.
India’s Resistance in the Final Overs
In the final 10 overs of the first session, India scored 30 runs. Although Australia managed to get one wicket, India showed resilience and managed to stay in the game.
Brief Scores
Australia: 474 (Steve Smith 140, Marnus Labuschagne 72, Jasprit Bumrah 4/99)
India: 326/7 (Washington Sundar 40*, Nitish Kumar Reddy 85*, Scott Boland 3/49)
