Kohli registers his 24th ton, India rake up 295 runs

After Rohit Sharma (6) failed to score anything substantial today, vice-captain Virat Kohli went on to bat for more than 40 overs to register his 24th ODI hundred, ably supported by Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane to take the visitor's score past 280 runs.

Earlier in the morning, Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost the toss and was asked to bat first by the home captain.

Rohit Sharma's failure was a rare one, as the batsman scored 2 centuries in the last two encounter, but Shikhar Dhawan's innings of 68 finally ended his run drought.

Dhawan faced 91 balls and hit 9 boundaries apart from stitching a 119-run partnership with Virat Kohli.

Kohli scored a run a ball 117, hitting 7 boundaries and 2 towering sixes.

The Test skipper, after the departure of Dhawan put up another century plus stand with Ajinkya Rahane (50) to deny the Aussie bowlers, who tried hard to make inroads in the middle overs.

Rahane's 55-ball knock comprised of 4 boundaries and a six.

After Rahane and Kohli were dismissed in the space of few balls, Mahendra Singh Dhoni tonked 2 sixes and a couple of boundaries to score a brisk 23 off 9 balls.

All the 3 batsmen, Rahane, Kohli and Dhoni fell prey to John Hastings, trying to up the ante.

Hastings picked up his career best 4 wickets for 58 runs.

Kane Richardson and James Faulkner accounted for a scalp each.