NEW DELHI: Nitish Kumar Reddy battled to drag India back into the fourth Test match against Australia on Saturday, scoring a courageous first century.
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, seam bowling all-rounder Reddy achieved three figures in the final session on day three, much to the cheers of a sizable Indian fans.
The 21-year-old all-rounder was on 105 not out, with India 358/9 in response to Australia's 474 when play was called off early due to rain.
There will be half an hour early start on Day 4 (10 am local time) to compensate for the lost overs on Day 3.
That means in India, play will start at 4.30 am.
With the series still locked at 1-1 and just one more Test to go in Sydney, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is still up for grabs.
India will reclaim the trophy if the series ends in a draw as they had won the last edition.
Reddy struck ten fours and one six in 172 balls to attain the milestone.
Reddy, who had earlier flashed a cover drive from Mitchell Starc over the boundary to reach his maiden Test 50, hoisted Scott Boland over mid-on for four to reach three figures.
Reddy's and Washington Sundar's 127-run partnership feel three runs short of breaking the record for India's highest eighth-wicket partnership on Australian soil.
Reddy resumed his excellent batting form from his debut series, and he was the aggressor.
Reddy has amassed 282 runs at a little over 70 average in his first six Test innings.
