A statement with straight bat and clear mind

It was into this scenario that the 21-year-old Nitish Reddy walked in. And when the day was done, he had worked his way to an unbelievable 105* to lift his team and nation with his courage and spirit.

- Ashish Magotra

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.