Rahane, Kohli tons as India close in on Australia

MELBOURNE, Dec 28 (AFP): India counter-punched their way back into the third Test on the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in a record stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Sunday.
Kohli savaged the Australian bowlers, particularly Mitchell Johnson, for his third ton of the series, while Rahane hit his highest Test score of 147.
The pair piled on 262 runs for the fourth wicket, a record for the fourth wicket by any pair at the MCG. It eclipsed Michael Clarke and Shane Watson's 194 against Sri Lanka two years ago.
Kohli was out in the last over of the day, brilliantly snapped up by Brad Haddin off Johnson for 169 in 380 minutes off 272 balls with 18 fours.
At the close India were 462 for eight, trailing by 68 runs with two days remaining. Mohammed Shami was nine not out.
"I'm very proud of the way we played. We backed ourselves throughout. I'm not disappointed at all (at getting out in the last over)," Kohli said.
Australia paceman Ryan Harris said early wickets Monday's fourth day would be crucial.
"Now that we've got eight wickets down the quicker we get them in the morning the better, and hopefully have a bit of lead and bat and see where we go from there," he said.
The last time India put on a 250-plus stand in an overseas Test was the 353 by Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman for the fourth wicket in Sydney in 2004.
Rahane was finally out leg before wicket to Nathan Lyon for 147 in the 108th over. He batted for four hours and faced 171 balls with 21 fours.
The pair were particularly severe on Johnson, with Kohli crunching three fours off one over and Rahane repeating the dose in Johnson's subsequent over.
The last time Johnson (1-133) had been punished as severely was 0-104 against England at the Gabba in 2010.
Rahane raised his highest Test score with a cross-bat four off Johnson, bettering his 118 against New Zealand in Wellington in February.
India 8 for 462 (Kohli 169, Rahane 147) trail Australia 530 by 68 runs.