Rogers top scores in Victoria's 236

Victoria 236 (Rogers 88, Abbott 3-60) v New South Wales
Scorecard

Chris Rogers prepared for the first Ashes Test with a solid 88 on the first day at the MCG, but New South Wales took the honours by dismissing Victoria late in the day for 236. Rogers batted for more than five hours as wickets fell around him, eventually bowled when he dragged on a short delivery from the offspinner Nathan Lyon, who was also warming up for a likely spot in the Gabba Test.

Lyon finished with 2 for 58 from his 26 overs, also having John Hastings stumped for 10, but it was Sean Abbott who caused the most problems for the Victorians with 3 for 60. Abbott's strikes included two from consecutive deliveries, the in-form Cameron White bowled by a yorker for 48 and Aaron Finch also bowled for a golden duck.

Matthew Wade survived the hat-trick ball but went on to become Abbott's third victim, caught behind for 9 as Victoria stumbled to 5 for 112 having chosen to bat in sunny conditions. But Rogers kept things ticking along for the Bushrangers and was the only batsman to pass fifty, lifting his scoring rate as he started to run out of partners.

Doug Bollinger and Steve O'Keefe picked up two wickets each and the last Victorian wicket, Fawad Ahmed, fell from the last ball of the 96th over. Ahmed's main role will arrive on day two as he aims for a bag of wickets that could encourage the selectors to consider him for the first Ashes Test.