Kohli resists but Australia on course

Lunch India 161 and 6 for 165 (Kohli 69*, Vinay Kumar 6*, Starc 2-31, Siddle 2-37) trail Australia 369 by 43 runs
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Ryan Harris split a stubborn stand between Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid before Peter Siddle nicked out MS Dhoni, as Australia closed on a series victory over India at lunch. The visitors were 6 for 165 at the interval, still 43 runs short of making Australia bat again.

Kohli and Dravid provided the staunchest Indian batting resistance of the match in a union of 84, but were never completely in control against Harris, who deservedly found a way past Dravid towards the end of a thoroughly exacting spell. Siddle's dismissal of Dhoni was a familiar sight, the captain's edge snapped up by Ricky Ponting in the cordon, and Kohli was left only with a long tail for company.

Kohli's innings was a beacon of hope for India's future, demonstrating strong technique and a stronger mind to cope with Australia's bowling that did not flag in considerable heat. Following up a similarly composed 44 in the first innings, it may warrant a promotion in the batting order for Adelaide.

Resuming at 4 for 88, still 120 short of going into credit, Dravid and Kohli had plenty of testing moments in the opening overs. Harris' first two deliveries of the day did everything but bowl Dravid, angling in and seaming away, while at the other end Ben Hilfenhaus swung the ball tantalisingly away with the help of a freshening south-westerly breeze.

Kohli was the more assured of the batting duo, though he was surprised by a zippy Harris bouncer that skimmed off glove and helmet to clear the slips cordon and fly to the boundary. Otherwise he collected his runs quietly, with ones and twos, reining in his most aggressive tendencies in a struggle for survival against bowling that offered precious little latitude.

Harris, in particular, posed question after question, taking advantage of a crack on a length at the Lillee-Marsh Stand end to bring the ball sharply back into Kohli and Dravid. After another delivery had singed off stump, Harris voiced his frustration, but a reward was not far away.

Dravid was late to react to some subtle inswing, the ball swerving between bat and pad to send leg stump cartwheeling. Harris' first reaction was to look back at the umpire rather than celebrate, perhaps out of worry that his rum luck so far this morning might have extended to a no-ball. The umpire Aleem Dar's arm remained by his side, and Dravid shuffled off, bowled five times in six innings during the series.

Dhoni's technique has been found similarly wanting, and once again he would edge tamely into the cordon. Siddle's delivery was full, fast and swinging, and Ponting's hands at second slip were alert and safe. Nevertheless, the dismissal was another grim reflection on the batting of Dhoni, who has always struggled to replicate his subcontinental run-scoring on foreign shores.