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Virat Kohli scored his maiden test century and India’s bowlers claimed some early scalps in Australia’s second innings, but the host retained its dominant position after three days of the fourth and final test at the Adelaide Oval.

Kohli’s 116 was the standout innings on Thursday in another disappointing batting performance by India, which was bowled out for 272, conceding a 332-run first-innings lead. Peter Siddle took 5-49 for Australia.

The host elected not to enforce the follow-on and at stumps was 50-3 in its second innings, holding an overall lead of 382 and with in-form pair Michael Clarke (9 not out) and Ricky Ponting (1 not out) to resume on Day 4.

India collapsed from 225-5 just before tea, losing its final five wickets for 47 runs to the second new ball as Siddle hurried the capitulation.

Kohli’s innings was full of class and was in marked contrast to the failures of his more esteemed teammates, who failed to make the most of batsmen-friendly conditions.

All eyes on Thursday were on Sachin Tendulkar, who could not have asked for a more benign pitch as he sought to finally score his elusive 100th international century.

But within the first hour, Tendulkar disappointed the packed Australia Day crowd and fell for 25 runs. He has now gone a career-worst 23 innings without a century. He will likely get one more chance on this pitch in this final test, with one-dayers to follow.

Kohli, the 23-year-old from Delhi, scored India’s first hundred of the series. 

AP