With the Indian cricket team locked in a tight contest against Australia on day three of the fourth Test in Melbourne, Nitish Kumar Reddy turned out to be India’s savior with a tough half-century at No. 8 on Saturday. During the innings, Reddy achieved a mega first in Indian cricket. His record tally of sixes against Australia in the series is eight. He is the first Indian to hit eight in a single series in Australia. He now also holds the record for the joint-most sixes by a visiting batsman in an Australia series. Before that, Michael Vaughan (2002-03 Ashes) and Chris Gayle (2009-10) had hit eight sixes in a single series.
So far, there are eight sixes written by Nitish Kumar Reddy in this series.
Australia’s record for most visiting batsmen in a Test series
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Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar’s crucial 105-run stand helped India bounce back against Australia in the ongoing Melbourne Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Saturday. At Tea on Day 03, India posted 326/7 with Washington Sundar (40*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (85*) leaving the visitors unbeaten by 148 runs.
India, with the help of Washington and Nitish, made a solid comeback in the match when Australia were in the driving seat of the match.
The visitors started the second session at 244/7 and added 82 runs in 24 overs without losing a single wicket.
The two middle-order batsmen looked solid in crunch time, determined to capitalize on runs on the board and hit back against the Australian bowlers.
Early in the second session, Steve Smith dropped a catch for Washington, which fell off the back of the bat towards the Australian batsman at second slip. Now perhaps Smith regrets not taking it.
In the 83rd over of the match, Nitish lofted the ball through the empty point area for four and achieved his first Test fifty. This helped the youngster gain confidence in his game as he continued to add goals.
India escaped the chase in the 84th over and breathed a sigh of relief. In the 92nd over, India crossed the 300-run mark thanks to the partnership between Washington and Nitish.
The visitors needed a crucial partnership in the game without losing any wickets. Both young men proved this in the most important moments of the game.
In Melbourne, conditions worsened when rain started to fall, after which the umpires took an early tea.
Includes ANI input
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