Australia remove Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja as India reach 244-7 at lunch in MCG Test

A Nathan Lyon breakthrough and some misplaced aggression by Rishabh Pant left India 244 for seven at lunch on day three of the fourth Test on Saturday – still 31 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

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All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was 40 not out, with Washington Sundar on five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as India’s faint hopes of saving the Test rested on rearguard resistance.

India were already in trouble when they resumed on 164 for five in the morning, desperately needing a galvanising partnership from wicketkeeper Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

Instead, Pant squandered his start with a botched reverse scoop off Scott Boland to be caught for 28, a top-edge ballooning to Lyon at third man.

Lyon then broke a 30-run partnership between Jadeja and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy by trapping Jadeja in front for 17.

India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy continues to impress in his debut Test series, reaching 40 for the fourth time. Photo: AP

Jadeja reviewed the lbw dismissal more in hope than conviction, with the tracking technology showing the ball hitting the top of middle and off stump.

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