Sydney: India made good use of a placid Sydney Cricket Ground pitch to move steadily to 122-2 at lunch on the third day of the fourth test, still 450 runs behind Australia.
Resuming his innings Thursday, Rohit Sharma moved to a patient 53 before being bowled by spinner Nathan Lyon in the only wicket of the morning session.
Lokesh Rahul survived a missed run out and a dropped catch to be unbeaten on 50 at the interval, with Virat Kohli 16 not out.
India had lost its first wicket on day two, before scoring a run, when Mitchell Starc had Murali Vijay caught behind in the first over.
Australia declared its first innings at 572-7 just after tea Wednesday, with its top six batsmen all scoring above 50 for the first time, including centuries for Steve Smith (117) and David Warner (101).
Australia bowled a disciplined line and length throughout the morning, limiting India's scoring opportunities and Lyon thought he had made the breakthrough shortly after the drinks break when he appealed for a bat-pad catch off Rahul but was turned down by umpire Richard Kettleborough.
Infrared video replays showed Lyon's delivery had lightly flicked Rahul's glove before hitting his thigh and popping up for Joe Burns to catch, but neither Burns or wicketkeeper Brad Haddin appealed, which may have influenced the umpire's not out decision.
Lyon was not left disappointed for long as he bowled Sharma for 53 next over, catching the bottom edge of Sharma's bat as he attempted to sweep the off-spinner to the leg side.
Australia should have removed Rahul on the next ball as Lyon beat new batsman Kohli with the ball deflecting off Haddin's leg to Starc at short fine leg. Rahul set off for a quick single, before turning back, slipping over and scrambling back to safety at the bowlers end before Starc and Haddin were aware of the simple opportunity to run the batsman out, much to captain Smith's frustration.
Rahul, who made his 50 off 161 balls, also survived a dropped catch just before lunch when he skied a Watson delivery. Smith ran back from slip to take what looked a regulation catch only to drop the chance. Smith gestured immediately afterward that the wires of the aerial camera above the field interfered with the play.
Australia has an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with two wins and a draw in the first three tests.
