Sydney: Lokesh Rahul scored his maiden test hundred and Virat Kohli made a half century as India reached 234-2 at tea on the third day of the fourth test, trailing Australia by 338 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground here Thursday.
Rahul (106 not out), playing in his second test, reached his milestone shortly before the interval after earlier surviving a missed run out and a dropped catch which was partly caused by interference with a TV camera suspended above the field.
Kohli was unbeaten on 67 at the break and also survived a dropped catch by Smith when on 59.
Nathan Lyon (1-71) claimed the only wicket to fall, bowling Rohit Sharma for 53.
Australia did have opportunities to take more wickets on a placid SCG pitch, but missed a simple run out chance and dropped two catches during day three.
Rahul, when on 46, skied a Shane Watson delivery high in the air behind the stumps, just before the lunch interval. Smith ran back from slip to take the catch but reacted angrily after putting down the chance, pointing toward the wires of the aerial camera.
Cricket Australia and the host broadcaster, the Nine Network, later released a joint statement confirming Smith had been "distracted by one of the wires in his eyeline."
Kohli made an assured half century, to go with his three hundreds and one half century already this series, but looked vulnerable against the second new ball and, when on 59, edged a Starc delivery to Smith at third slip, where the captain dropped the sharp chance.
In the first session, Lyon appealed for a bat-pad catch off Rahul but it was turned down. Infrared video replays showed the ball had lightly flicked Rahul's glove before hitting his thigh and popping up for Joe Burns to catch.
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 and the ball deflecting off wicketkeeper Brad 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.
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 Smith (117) and David Warner (101).
The hosts have an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with two wins and a draw in the first three tests.
