Australia have declared on 318-9 and set India a target of 384 at lunch on day five of the third Test in Melbourne.
The hosts kicked off the morning session with a 326-run lead and three wickets remaining, but a rain-delayed start to the fifth and final day stunted their progress.
Upon resuming, Shaun Marsh and Ryan Harris continued to prove a stubborn opposition at the crease, but Mohammed Shami removed the latter for 21 with half an hour left in the session.
Marsh looked well on course for a third Test century after adding a further 37 runs to sit on 99, having begun the day on 62.
However, the left-hander was cruelly run out by Virat Kohli in his pursuit of the century.
India, who trail 2-0 in the series, need 384 from their second innings to reduce the arrears.
