Australia fight back after Kohli and Rahane show

AustraliavIndia

Both Nathan Lyon (2-108) and Ryan Harris (4-69) took a pair of wickets as Australia claimed five scalps in the third session on Sunday, which saw India finish on 462-8 - still 68 runs behind - after Virat Kohli was dismissed for 169 with the last ball of the day.

Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (147) both produced their highest Test scores to put India into a promising position before the latter was dismissed to make it 409-4 early in the third session.

Stunning catches from Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin bookended a tough day in the field for the hosts, with the 37-year-old flying full stretch to his right to claim one-handed takes to end Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara's (25) time in the middle.

On just the second delivery of the day, Haddin - who had come under some criticism for dropping a catch on Saturday - brought the MCG crowd to their feet when he plucked Pujara's edge off Harris' bowling.

Haddin produced a carbon-copy catch 89 overs later after Kohli edged a ball from Mitchell Johnson (1-133).

India dominated the first and second sessions with Kohli and - in particular - Rahane bludgeoning the Australian bowlers all over the pitch.

Rahane came to the middle with Kohli on 26 but powered past his team-mate in the second session, reaching 100 three overs earlier.

Johnson suffered the most punishment, conceding 123 runs off 29 overs before finally getting a wicket.

Rahane was out in the 71st over of the day, trapped lbw by Lyon, and in the off-spinner's next over debutant Lokesh Rahul (3) was caught by Josh Hazlewood after top-edging a sweep.

Captain MS Dhoni (11) and Ravi Ashwin (0) followed soon after as Harris claimed back-to-back wickets, before Johnson ended the day's play with the wicket of Kohli.

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