Shane Watson struck twice and Spidercam earned the scorn of Steve Smith on day three of the fourth Test, with India 5-342 at stumps in Sydney.

Centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli spearheaded the tourists’ steadfast response to Australia’s first-innings total of 7(dec)-572.

Watson was on a hat-trick in the final session, having trapped Ajinkya Rahane lbw and then finding the edge of Suresh Raina’s bat.

Wriddhiman Saha safely defended the next delivery, but the scalps reinvigorated Australia’s hopes of victory after a day dominated by Rahul and Kohli’s 141-run partnership.

Kohli finished 140 not out, setting a new Indian record for most runs in a Test series against Australia.

Rahul, mentored by namesake Rahul Dravid and renowned for the high price he puts on his wicket, channelled his inner wall in a vigil that lasted almost six hours.

The 22-year-old came up with two embarrassing dismissals on Test debut in Melbourne, but settled to post a maiden Test century in the final over before tea on Thursday.

He benefited from two reprieves in the morning session – a bungled run-out on 41 and Smith’s dropped catch on 46.

Smith was distracted by Spidercam in that instance, having lost track of the skied edge amid the camera’s wires.

The stand-in skipper only had himself to blame when he put down another with Kohli on 59.

Smith, stationed at second slip, managed to get both hands to the leather but couldn’t reel it in.

Rahul thumped a six off Nathan Lyon to move past 90, while Kohli was typically aggressive as India added 112 runs in the pre-tea session.

It was distinctly different in the morning, when the tourists managed 19 runs in the first hour of play.

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

Lyon snagged the only wicket in the opening two sessions when Rohit Sharma played on, attempting a sweep shot to ball outside off stump that deserved more respect.

But Smith went from delirious to downright stroppy in the space of one ball, with Rahul taking off from the non-striker’s end for a misplaced single.

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

Cummins, 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 Brad Haddin realised he should have a ping at the stumps.

A draw looms as the most likely outcome in the dead rubber, with Indian legend VVS Laxman tweeting that the SCG strip was the slowest Australian pitch he had seen.