Young Nitish Kumar Reddy was going strong on an unbeaten 85 to keep India in the contest against Australia on the third day of the fourth Test here on Saturday.
Thanks to Reddy's 119-ball knock and Washington Sundar's unbeaten 40, India were at 326 for seven when bad light and a drizzle forced the umpires to take tea before the scheduled time at the MCG.
That had followed India losing the overnight pair of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja before reaching 244 for seven at lunch.
India, who had gone in at 164 for five and were behind by 310 runs at stumps on the second evening, were aided by an unbroken eight-wicket stand of 105 by Reddy and Washington.
Earlier in the day, Pant had scored 28 before his wicket surrendered to Scott Boland and Jadeja was caught lbw for 17.
Brief scores:
Australia 1st innings: 474
India 1st innings: 326 for seven in 97 overs (Nitish Reddy batting 85, Yashasvi Jasiwal 82, Washington Sundar batting 40; Scott Boland 3/49).
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