ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) — Australia held a massive 382-run lead after dismissing India cheaply yesterday and opting to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on on the third day of the fourth Test in Adelaide.

Rising star Virat Kohli hit his maiden Test century and India’s first of the series with a defiant 116 as the tourists, facing a 4-0 series wipeout, mustered just 272 in reply to Australia’s imposing 604 for seven declared.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke chose not to send the Indians back in, giving his bowlers a breather from the sweltering conditions with a second innings declaration likely early today to give them time to chase another win.

At stumps, Australia were 50 for three with first innings heroes Clarke (9) and Ricky Ponting (1) at the crease.

Once again Australia lost their top three batsmen cheaply with David Warner, caught and bowled by Ravi Ashwin for 28, the out-of-sorts Shaun Marsh dismissed for a four-ball duck and Ed Cowan leg before wicket to Ashwin for 10.

“The Adelaide wicket is one that you don’t want to be batting on last, we didn’t have to think too much about that (not following-on),” Australia’s Peter Siddle, who starred with five wickets, said.

“It was a matter of batting for a bit of time, taking a bit of time out of the game, but still scoring some runs to try to bat them out of the game.

“There’s still plenty of time left, two days of cricket, we’re in a good position.”

Earlier Kholi showed India’s decorated senior batsman how it should be done by scoring a hard-nosed maiden century in his eighth Test.

Sachin Tendulkar again came up short in his bid for an elusive 100th international hundred with 25.

Kohli, 23, clouted Clarke for a six and hit eight fours in his 213-ball knock after the tourists had slumped to 111 for five.

He put on 114 for the sixth wicket with debutant wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and leapt joyously into the air in celebration as he scampered through for a single to bring up his breakthrough hundred.

“When I got the 100th run, I was on cloud nine,” Kohli said. “When you are a young kid you always dream about achieving a Test century and the first one is always more special and I’m really happy.”

Siddle took five for 49 including the prized wickets of Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir (34) in the space of 10 balls, after snaring the struggling Virender Sehwag (18).

Siddle claimed Tendulkar’s wicket for the third time in the series, enticing an edge off the record-breaking batsman which was scooped up low at second slip by Ricky Ponting.

The right-arm quick picked up Gambhir’s wicket in his next over as the Indian opener tried to fend off a rising delivery which clipped the shoulder of his bat and was caught by a diving Mike Hussey at gully.

Spinner Nathan Lyon followed up with the wicket of misfiring VVS Laxman for 18 shortly before lunch.

Laxman’s miserable series continued when he edged a Lyon delivery into the gloves of Brad Haddin, taking his paltry series return to 120 runs from seven innings at 17.14.

Saha, playing in place of the suspended MS Dhoni, was bowled by Ryan Harris in the last over before tea for 35 — the only Indian wicket to fall in the middle session — ending a century partnership with Kohli.

Siddle removed Ashwin (5) and Zaheer Khan (0) with consecutive deliveries for his fifth five-wicket Test haul, before Ben Hilfenhaus mopped up the Indian innings with the wickets of Ishant Sharma (16) and Kohli, whom he trapped leg before.

The Indians are facing a series humiliation after heavy losses in the opening three Tests.