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Nitish Kumar Reddy hit a superb first Test century to keep India in the fourth Test - but Australia remain in a strong position at the end of day three in Melbourne.

Playing in his fourth Test and with his father among the India fans in the stands, 21-year-old Reddy made an unbeaten 105 to drag his side from 191-6 to 358-9 at the close.

He put on 127 in 47.1 overs for the eighth wicket with Washington Sundar to frustrate Australia after the early dismissals of Rishabh Pant for 28 and Ravindra Jadeja for 17.

Sundar fell for 50 with Reddy unbeaten on 97 and when Jasprit Bumrah went for a three-ball duck, the batting all-rounder was at risk of being stranded as last man Mohammed Siraj emerged.

But Siraj survived the rest of Cummins' over and Reddy, batting at number eight, reached three figures by elegantly driving his 10th four.

Bad light and rain arrived soon after with India still 116 runs behind - but Reddy's knock means the tourists have hope of earning at least a draw over the final two days.

Match report

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21-year-old all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, playing his fourth Test has reached his first international hundred as he battles to keep India in this Test.

He came in with India 191-6 before putting on 127 with Washington Sundar to reduce the deficit.

Sundar was caught for 50 with Reddy unbeaten on 97 and number 10 Jasprit Bumrah was out for a duck in the next over, leaving Reddy at risk of being stranded in the nineties.

But Reddy reached three figures by slapping Scott Boland to wild celebrations from the crowd.

Bad light stopped play shortly afterwards with India 358-9, trailing by 116 runs.

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• India have found lower-order resistance from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, who are battling to keep the tourists in this Test.
• Australia moved further into the ascendency in the morning session by reducing India to 221-7.
• Rishabh Pant was caught playing an audacious scoop for 28 and Ravindra Jadeja was out lbw to Nathan Lyon for 17.
• But Reddy and Sundar have put on an unbroken century stand to reduce India's deficit.
• 21-year-old all-rounder Reddy is closing on a first Test hundred but his side still trail Australia's 474 by more than 100.

Australia will begin the third morning of the fourth Test against India well on top after dominating day two in Melbourne.

The standout player was Steve Smith, who hit a magnificent 140 to help the hosts post 474.

It was the 34-year-old's 34th Test century and moved him up to joint seventh on the all-time list, in a five-strong group that includes Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar.

Smith's knock included a crucial 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket with captain Pat Cummins, who hit 49.

India skipper Rohit Sharma's poor run of form with the bat continued when he fell for just three off the bowling of Cummins at the start of India's reply.

The Australia skipper then bowled KL Rahul with a beauty just before tea to leave India reeling on 51-2.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with a partnership of 102 before a desperate mix-up saw Jaiswal run out for 82.

Scott Boland then removed Kohli for 36 and Deep for a duck as India limped to 164-5 at the close, still trailing by 310 runs.