Sat Dec 28 07:00:51 UTC 2024: ## Young Indian Batsman Reddy Slams Maiden Test Century, Records Eight Sixes in Series Against Australia
**Melbourne, Australia** – Nitish Kumar Reddy became an unlikely hero for India on the third day of the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne. The 21-year-old, batting at number eight, scored a gritty century – his maiden Test ton – and in doing so, etched his name in the history books. Reddy’s innings included eight sixes, making him the first Indian to achieve this feat in a single Test series in Australia. This also ties him with Michael Vaughan (2002-03 Ashes) and Chris Gayle (2009-10) for the joint-most sixes by a visiting batsman in a series in Australia.
Reddy’s century, achieved in 171 balls, is also the first by an Indian number eight batsman in Australia. His accomplishment makes him the third youngest Indian to score a Test century in Australia.
His crucial 105-run partnership with Washington Sundar (40*) helped India fight back against Australia after they were teetering at 244/7. The pair added 82 runs in the second session, avoiding the follow-on and pushing India’s score past 300 before an early tea was called due to rain. A dropped catch by Steve Smith off Washington early in the session proved costly for Australia.
At tea, India stood at 326/7, still trailing Australia by 148 runs, but in a far stronger position thanks to Reddy and Sundar’s impressive display of resilience and skill. The match remains keenly contested.
First Piper 