Nitish Kumar was about to turn the tables, but Cummins changed the game by dismissing Bumrah.

Melbourne: The third day of the fourth match being played between India and Australia on Saturday was an exciting Melbourne Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, the game had to be stopped due to rain. India has lost 9 wickets so far and now Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mohammed Siraj are left at the crease.

Nitish Kumar Reddy along with Washington Sundar stitched a crucial 105-run partnership for India and helped them stage a comeback against Australia in the Melbourne Test. India's score at tea break on Day 03 was 326/7. During this, Washington Sundar (40*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (85*) were unbeaten at the crease and the visiting team was behind by 148 runs.

Sensitive turning point for India

But in the end, Washington was caught out by Steve Smith on the ball of Lyon and this important partnership for India ended. After Washington Sundar, India still had two wickets left, which India wanted to save. Because if even the 8th wicket had fallen, it would have been a blow-out match for India. But Australia's Cummins did not let this peace last long and gave the pavilion to Jasprit Bumrah, who was not even settled yet.

Early in the second session, Steve Smith dropped Washington's catch as the ball went past the bat to the Australian batsman at second slip. Now, Smith might be regretting not taking it. In the 83rd over of the match, Nitish lofted the ball into the empty point area for a four and scored his first Test half-century.

India postponed follow-on

In the 84th over, India heaved a sigh of relief as they avoided the follow-on. Later in the 92nd over, India crossed the 300-run mark thanks to the partnership between Washington and Nitish. India needed a significant partnership in the game without losing any wicket.

The conditions worsened as drizzle started in Melbourne, prompting the umpires to take tea early. Nitish is closing in on his maiden Test century and will be eager to achieve it and put India in a better position in the game. Even though Australia still leads the game, India's performance in the second session will definitely boost their confidence.

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third day's play is over

Earlier, India started the first session at 164/5 with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. The pair of Pant and Jadeja continued to build a partnership on the third day. However, India had to struggle against the Australian bowlers.

Saturday was the third day of the fourth match of the Melbourne Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy being played between India and Australia. Which is closed due to rain. Now India is trailing by 116 runs. India has lost 9 wickets so far and all hopes will now rest on Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy tomorrow.

India were 358/9 at stumps on the third day, with Nitish (105*) and Mohammed Siraj (2*) unbeaten at the crease. The visiting team is still 116 runs behind.