MELBOURNE: For a brief moment, there was a look of despair on Nitish Kumar Reddy's face. Off the last ball of the 113th over, the right-hander had run two to get to 99 but lost the strike. As he was midway through the second, he put his hand on his helmet, as if regretting the momentary lapse of awareness. It was one of the few mistakes he made all day, perhaps the only one.
It meant that Jasprit Bumrah would be on strike against Pat Cummins to start the next over. And his worst fears were realised when the Indian pacer was dismissed off the third ball of the over. That look on Reddy's face came immediately after that wicket. He was still on 99 and last man Mohammed Siraj was coming in to bat.
As Siraj made his way to the middle, accompanied by a cacophony of boos around the Melbourne Cricket Ground, many in the stadium had started praying because if there was anyone who deserved a century, it was Reddy - he could not be stranded on 99. Not him.
The fourth ball of the over beat Siraj and skimmed past his edge. The fifth was a bouncer and he ducked. The final delivery was full and straight. Siraj defended it and the crowd went absolutely mad. It was the loudest they had been all day.
Soon, Reddy gave them an opportunity to top that though when he hit the third ball of the next over from Scott Boland for four to reach a memorable ton. Reddy's dad, Mutalya, watching from the stands, was in tears. So were so many others. This was the stuff dreams are made of.
Australia had come into the day expecting India to fight but also hoping that maybe by tea they would be having another go at the Indian bowlers. But at close of play on Day 3, India had made their way to a gritty 358/9 still trailing by 116 runs.
Two youngsters, the 21-year-old Reddy (105* - 176 balls, 10x4, 1x6) and the 25-year-old Washington Sundar (50 off 162 balls), had defied the odds with a 127-run partnership that helped the visitors claw back into the match.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 29, 2024 من Hindustan Times Mumbai.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 29, 2024 من Hindustan Times Mumbai.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Why You Should Use Vitamin C Serum in Winter
Winter's cold, dry air can leave your skin dull, dehydrated and prone to issues like irritation and ageing.
CBI Adds Graft Charges in Mahadev Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption and cheating case in connection with the Mahadev online betting app scandal, people familiar with developments said on Monday, roughly four months after the Chhattisgarh government asked the agency to probe the larger conspiracy and role of public servants in a case where former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was earlier named.
End of One-Size-Fits-All: Obesity Diagnosis Enters New Era Sans BMI Limits
Experts say factors such as age, comorbidities, muscle mass and gender should be considered, too, when defining obesity
China Executes 62-Year-Old Who Killed 35 in Zhuhai Car Rampage
China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November, in the country's deadliest mass attack in years.
The bovine beliefs of a man of science
Veezhinathan Kamakoti loves cows. More so if they are indigenous breeds. He also believes that cow urine has medicinal value. As a private individual, he has every right to stick to his beliefs, which are derived from faith-based claims rather than evidence provided by modern science.
SC Grants Centre Till Mar 18 To Decide On Rajoana's Mercy Plea
The Supreme Court on Monday gave a \"last chance\" to the Centre to decide by March 18 on the long-pending mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.
Turf questions in CCI's Meta order
CCI HAD IMPOSED A ₹213 CRORE PENALTY ON META FOR ALLEGEDLY ABUSING ITS DOMINANT POSITION
No mascara, no problem: That's 2025's hottest beauty trend
Even the best mascaras take a little effort to remove — but what if skipping them altogether became the hottest beauty trend of 2025? Enter the effortlessly chic full-face, no-mascara look.
India Set To Host 2025 Fide World Cup From Oct 31
India is all set to host possibly the most important chess tournament of the year, the Fide World Cup.
We have no time to stand and stare
THIS IS KNOWN AS LEISURE GUILT. A FEELING OF NEGATIVITY WHEN SPENDING TIME ON LEISURE, INSTEAD OF BEING PRODUCTIVE
