Kohli emerges on top after Johnson stoush

Virat Kohli has registered his third century of this Commonwealth Bank Test Series and his fourth in Australia during a dramatic afternoon session on day three of the Boxing Day Test.

The right-hander brought up his ninth Test hundred just before tea with a drive to the long-off boundary off Nathan Lyon, his 11th four of the innings.

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He jumped in the air and punched his fist before removing his helmet to accept the applause of the MCG crowd, which included a small but vocal group of Indian supporters at the Punt Road End.

The 26-year-old barely offered a chance as he moved to 84 midway through the day's play, but he was then unsettled by a thrilling spell of bowling from Mitchell Johnson with the second new ball.

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Bowling from the Members' End, Johnson gave an insight into the frustrations of the home side when he fielded a defensive push from Kohli in his follow-through and threw it firmly in the direction of the stumps.

Kohli, out of his crease, turned to jump back into his ground and was struck by Johnson's throw before hitting the turf.

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The fast-bowler immediately apologised and patted the Indian on the shoulder as he retrieved the ball, but Kohli was clearly riled by the incident (watch the video at the top of this page).

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He went for a booming drive outside off stump next ball but, luckily for the tourists, the ball sailed harmlessly through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

He tried another loose drive three balls later, but a thick outside edge flew between gully and slip to the boundary, which resulted in some choice words from the bowler and a quick response from Kohli.

Johnson nearly got his man with the first ball of his next over, but first slip Shane Watson spilled a thick outside edge as he dove low to his left.

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And in Johnson's next over, Kohli had another stroke of good fortune when a top edge from an attempted pull shot looped harmlessly to backward square leg, just out of the reach of the fast-approaching Haddin.

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Having watched his partner Ajinkya Rahane register his third century of 2014 with a slash over gully, Kohli brought up his own personal milestone in the 94th over of the innings.

His hundred here is his fifth against Australia and compliments his twin centuries in the first Test in Adelaide two weeks ago.

It is his fourth hundred of the year and his sixth overall outside India.