Australia will take a lead of 326 into the final day of the third Test against India after Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh hit half-centuries in Melbourne.
The tourists lost their final two wickets to Mitchell Johnson for the addition of just three runs, conceding a first-innings deficit of 65 that Rogers and Marsh increased.
Rogers set the tone at the top of the order with 69, his fourth consecutive half-century, before Marsh’s unbeaten 62 led Australia to 261 for seven at the close.
The hosts, 2-0 ahead in the four-match series, wasted little time in finishing off India’s first knock as Johnson had Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami caught behind the wicket in consecutive deliveries.
Australia’s advantage soon rose to 122 as David Warner, with a sore thumb and bruised arm, dominated an opening stand of 57 with Rogers until Ravichandran Ashwin trapped him lbw for 40.
After an 86-minute rain delay in which four overs were lost, Shane Watson and Steven Smith, who did not make 50 for just the second time in seven Test innings, departed.
Rogers failed to complete his first format century since February when a late forward-defensive push off Ashwin rolled back onto his stumps.
India continued to take regular wickets to limit Australia and delay a declaration, with the performances of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane yesterday set to be in the back of stand-in skipper Smith's mind.
Ishant Sharma, Yadav and Shami accounted for debutant Joe Burns, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson’s 47-minute stay at the crease was again heated as Kohli and the left-hander continued their hot-tempered battle.
A reserved Marsh was still there at the end, though, hitting eight fours and a maximum in a 131-ball knock that set Australia up for a victory push at some point tomorrow that would seal the series.