Australia vs. India 2015, 4th Test, Day 3: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul scored centuries as India moved to the brink of avoiding the follow-on on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Kohli is unbeaten on 140, while Rahul made 110 in only his second Test. The tourists finished the day on 342-5 in reply to Australia's first innings of 572-7 declared.

The pair put on 141 for the third wicket with new India captain Kohli completing his fourth century of the series and 22-year-old Rahul notching his maiden international ton after scores of three and one on debut in Melbourne.

			Runs	Minutes	Balls
Vijay	c Haddin	b Starc	0	2	3
Rahul	c and b Starc		110	355	262
Ro Sharma		b Lyon	53	182	133
Kohli	not out		140	292	214
Rahane	lbw	b Watson	13	55	31
Raina	c Haddin	b Watson	0		1
Saha	not out		14	62	50
Extras		4nb 1w 1b 6lb	12
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Starc		21	4	77	2
Harris		23	6	63	0
Hazlewood		20	5	45	0
Lyon		32	7	91	1
Watson		15	4	42	2
Smith		4	0	17	0

The tourists began the day on 71-1 and made a cautious start with just 19 runs coming in the opening hour.

Nathan Lyon made the breakthrough after drinks when Rohit Sharma, having added only six runs to his overnight 47, underedged an attempted sweep and the ball rolled on to the stumps.

"

BREAKTHROUGH! Nathan Lyon clean bowls #India batsman Rohit Sharma! #AUSvIND #cricket https://t.co/izWndig5u4

— fanatix (@therealfanatix) January 8, 2015"

India progressed to 122-2 at lunch with Kohli and Rahul then adding 112 runs in the afternoon session.

Opener Rahul, who started the day on 41, reached his century from 253 balls by guiding Mitchell Starc past gully and to the boundary.

Rahul departed in the second over after tea when he top-edged an attempted pull off Starc who took the steepling return catch.

Shane Watson then nipped in with wickets in consecutive balls to hinder India's momentum and expose their shaky tail.

Ajinkya Rahane (13) missed an attempted pull and was adjudged lbw, although replays showed that the ball would have gone over off-stump, and Suresh Raina's first Test innings since 2012 only lasted one ball as he edged behind to Brad Haddin who took a fine diving catch to his left.

However, Kohli stood firm, hitting 20 boundaries in his 214-ball knock. He will start Day 4 at the crease with keeper Wriddhiman Saha (14 not out).

Australia have already won the four-match series after victories in the first two Tests.