Australia bungled two chances and Nathan Lyon snagged a wicket, but India’s resistance was otherwise steadfast at lunch on day three of the fourth Test.

The tourists were 2-122 at Thursday’s meal break, opting for a go-slow in response to Australia’s first-innings total of 7(dec)-572 in Sydney.

India added 19 runs in the first hour of play on day three, and managed 51 runs in the morning session.

Given the placid nature of the SCG pitch, it was testament to how well Lyon and the side’s pacemen bowled.

The hosts’ persistence paid off in the 44th over.

Rohit Sharma played on and departed for 53, attempting a sweep shot to a ball outside off stump that deserved more respect.

The following delivery Australia had a chance to remove KL Rahul for 41, with stand-in skipper Steve Smith clearly unhappy with their inattentiveness.

Rahul took off from the non-striker’s end, trying to race through for a single after the ball ricocheted off Brad Haddin’s thigh in the direction of substitute Pat Cummins.

By the time he realised Virat Kohli was standing still, Rahul was mid-pitch and Cummins had collected the ball.

But the 21-year-old, who was on the park due to Chris Rogers’ sore back, lobbed the leather to the wrong end.

There was more drama, with Rahul slipping and dropping his bat before Haddin had a ping at the stumps.

Rahul had another nervous moment on 46.

Smith sprinted back from first slip in pursuit of a skied edge, but struggled to pick it up with the sun and spidercam wires blotting his vision.

The 25-year-old got to the fall of the ball, but fumbled the catch.

Rahul went on to post his maiden half-century, reaching 50 not out at the break.

Kohli was 16.

The hosts look set for a long day in the field, with India legend VVS Laxman noting on Twitter the wicket was the “slowest” Australian pitch he had even seen.