Melbourne, Dec 28: Virat Kohli (169, 272b, 18×4) and Ajinkya Rahane (171b, 21×4) struck fluent centuries and stitched a record 262-run fourth-wicket partnership as India fought back bravely before a late-order slide allowed a sloppy Australia to claw back in the third cricket Test, here Sunday.
Resuming the day on 108 for one in response to the hosts’ first innings score of 530, India lost their overnight batsmen early but Kohli, registering his third ton in this series, and Rahane made sure that there were no further problems for India. The visitors ended the day on 462 for eight as they still trail by 68 runs at the end of day 3.
The best bowler for the Aussies was speedster Ryan Harris (4/69). Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson (1/133), who bled runs through the day, managed a consolation wicket as he had Kohli caught behind just before stumps.
Getting into heated exchanges with Johnson at different stages of his innings, Kohli was dropped on 88 by Shane Watson (1/65) at first slip in the 85th over and made full use of the spill. Rahane, who was an example of poise and grace, was finally trapped leg before off Nathan Lyon (2/108).
Rahane’s wicket opened up the gates for the host, who struck back with four wickets for 53 runs in the final session of play. Debutant Lokesh Rahul (3) failed to capitalise on a dropped chance at mid-wicket off Lyon only to play another similar stroke against the off-spinner on the very next delivery found his top edge gobbled up by Josh Hazlewood at fine leg.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) fiddled around for while but his tentative approach from the very start cost him his wicket after Harris got the wicketkeeper-batsman caught behind. Ravichandran Ashwin was the next as part of the mini-procession and the No.8 batsman could only face four balls before being caught and bowled off Harris for a nought.
Earlier, Kohli and Rahane built on their 77-run platform they had laid in the morning. The latter was more aggressive of the two and he continued in the same vein. India crossed the 250-mark in the 74th over and were nearing the follow-on mark when things got a bit frantic in the middle.
First, Lyon dropped Rahane (70 not out) in the 80th over, completely missing a simple return catch. Then as the second new ball was taken, Johnson hit Kohli with a return throw. The batsman had an angry go at him and then lost his composure. In the 85th over he edged behind off the same bowler but was lucky to see Watson grass the catch.
Earlier in the day, Cheteshwar Pujara (25) did not trouble the scorers as the No.3 batsman was out on the second ball of the day. Opener Murali Vijay (68, 135b, 7×4) did add a few runs to his score and hit a couple of lovely boundaries before he got hit on the back of the helmet off a Johnson snorter. That unsettled him and he edged Watson to be caught by Shaun Marsh at first slip.
Scoreboard
Australia (1st innings): 530
India (1st innings, overnight 108 for 1): Murali Vijay c Marsh b Watson 68, Cheteshwar Pujara c Haddin b Harris 25, Virat Kohli c Haddin b Johnson 169, Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Lyon 147, KL Rahul c Hazlewood b Lyon 3, MS Dhoni c Haddin b Harris 11, R Ashwin c and b Harris 0, Mohammad Shami batting 9, Extras (lb-1, w-1) 2, Total (for eight wickets) 462.
Fall: 1-55, 2-108, 3-147, 4-409, 5-415, 6-430, 7-434, 8-462.
Bowling: Johnson 29.2-5-133-1, Harris 25-7-69-4, Hazlewood 25-6-75-0, Watson 16-3-65-1, Lyon 29-3-108-2, Smith 2-0-11-0.
PTI