Melbourne, Dec 30 (Reporter) Australia remain in control of the second Test, but a gritty partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant has kept India’s hopes of a draw alive as the teams head into the tea break on Day 5 at the MCG here on Monday. Chasing a daunting target of 340, India reached 112 for 3 in 54 overs, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 63 and Pant holding steady at 28. The hosts still require 228 runs for an improbable victory, but survival seems to be their primary objective. India began the second session at a precarious 33 for 3, reeling from a top-order collapse in the morning session. The early damage was inflicted by Australia captain Pat Cummins, who dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in a fiery spell, and Mitchell Starc, who accounted for the prized wicket of Virat Kohli. Rohit was dismissed for 9 after edging a delivery to the gully, while Rahul fell for a five-ball duck. Kohli, who looked to anchor the innings, was undone by a full, swinging delivery from Starc, which Usman Khawaja caught in the slips. Cummins, in particular, extended his dominance over Rohit, dismissing the Indian skipper for the fourth time in as many innings this series. In the second session, Jaiswal and Pant displayed admirable composure under pressure. Jaiswal, who had already survived a nervy first session, reached his second half-century of the match with a strong bottom-handed whip through mid-wicket off Nathan Lyon. While the young left-hander looked tentative at times, playing and missing against Lyon’s probing deliveries, he capitalised on scoring opportunities, particularly through his favoured cut shots against Scott Boland. Pant, known for his aggressive style, played against type in this innings, focusing on defence and shot selection. The left-hander left or defended 69% of the deliveries he faced, marking his most restrained knock in recent memory. Pant's approach paid dividends, as he successfully negated the Australian pacers and looked increasingly comfortable as the session progressed. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the wicketkeeper-batsman. He required medical attention after being struck on the shoulder by a sharp Cummins bouncer but recovered quickly to resume his innings. Australia tried a variety of tactics to break the partnership. Lyon, who found some purchase from the fifth-day pitch, bowled a long spell but was unable to find the breakthrough. Cummins and Starc returned for short bursts, while Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head also rolled their arms over in an attempt to unsettle the Indian batsmen. Despite their best efforts, the Australian bowlers were left frustrated as the pair batted through the entire session. India’s decision to approach the chase cautiously in the afternoon has paid dividends so far. Jaiswal and Pant have added 79 runs for the fourth wicket, showing grit and determination to frustrate the visitors. The stage is now set for a thrilling finish to what has been a captivating Test match...////...