Cricket: India faced with near-impossible task at MCG

Sachin Tendulkar at the India cricket teams training at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

A fighting half-century from Shaun Marsh has virtually ensured that Australia will do no worse than draw the third test against India at the MCG, and with it win the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Marsh ended day four unbeaten on 62, while tail-end hero from the first innings, Ryan Harris, made a gritty, unbeaten eight as Australia finished the day on 261-7, a lead of 326.

The test, which has degenerated at times into an ugly sledge-fest, will almost certainly end in a draw unless India collapse in their second innings or pull off a miracle chase.

Chris Rogers made his fourth straight half century, but again was left frustrated in his elusive pursuit of three figures. Rogers clipped eight boundaries to bring up 69 before he was clean bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin (2-21).

David Warner slogged 40 runs off 42 balls before lunch, but Australia's charge was slowed by the loss of Shane Watson and Steven Smith in the second session, which was delayed more than an hour by rain.

Warner opened the innings with boundaries off the first two balls and hit four more before being trapped lbw by Ashwin.

Ishant Sharma (1-38) claimed Watson shortly after the start of the second session when the batsman offered a thick outside edge that was caught behind for 17. The allrounder has struggled for wickets and runs in the series and his place in the team must now be hanging by a thread.

Stand-in captain Smith's fine run of form stalled when he made just 14 before edging an Umesh Yadav (1-55) ball to leg slip, where it was snapped up by Ajinkya Rahane.

Smith has scored 581 runs in the series at an average of more than 145.

It appears India's only hope for a miracle now rests with Australia's arch-nemesis, Virat Kohli. The outspoken right-hander - who a day earlier said he had "no respect" for some of the Australians - has scored three centuries this series and is in rich, combative form.

If India was to polish off Australia's tail quickly, something they have consistently struggled to do, and Kohli gets rolling, India might fancy a miracle.

Earlier, Mitchell Johnson claimed two quick wickets as India lasted just 15 balls and added only two runs to its overnight score to finish with 465 in its first innings.

Yadav was caught behind for a duck with the second ball of the morning and Smith took a regulation catch at second slip to dismiss Mohammed Shami for 12.

Johnson (3-135) had dismissed Virat Kohli with the last ball of the third day to end an impressive knock of 169 that featured a prodigious 262-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (147).

India needs to win the third test to stay alive in the four-match series.

Australia enjoyed a 48-run win in the first test and a four-wicket victory last week in the second test at Brisbane.