Victoria dominate second day of Pura Cup final

Victoria 6 for 592 (Elliott 155, Moss 98, Arnberger 90, Hodge 89) v Queensland
Scorecard

Jonathon Moss made a fine 98 to keep Victoria right on top © Getty Images

The record books were spared but Queensland's bowlers were not as Victoria continued using their licence to bat with abandon on the second day of the Pura Cup cricket final at the MCG. With Victoria 6 for 592 at stumps in 186 overs and 723 minutes, the innings was a statistician's delight but prolonged agony for Queensland, who faced another three days of formalities before Victoria were crowned champion.

Needing only a draw to secure its first first-class title since 1990-91, Victoria appear certain to continue batting on the third day to become just the third side after Queensland (in 1994-95) and Western Australia (1986-87) to post 600 in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup final. Darren Berry, Victoria's captain, said, "We'll bat until Queensland get us out."

While the first day produced a stack of records to century-maker Matthew Elliott, the second day was more like a thousand cuts, with the Victorian middle order knuckling down after Queensland's pacemen picked up three wickets before lunch. The star of the day was Jonathan Moss, who made an entertaining 98, and was denied a century when he failed to get to the pitch of the ball for possibly the first time all day, and chipped Nathan Hauritz to short mid-on.

Moss and Cameron White (54) put on 135 to regain Victoria's ascendancy and then Ian Harvey (34 not out) and Andrew McDonald (37 not out) rounded off another dominant batting performance.

Berry smiled when asked if it would be hard keeping a lid on celebrations for the next three days. But he said that Victoria were still chasing an outright win, and could get some help from a pitch that has been dead for two days but starting to show signs of life.

"Speaking to McDonald and Harvey, they said a few kept a little bit low today towards the end of play today, which is obviously very encouraging for us with almost 600 runs on the board," Berry said. "There was a few cracks in it at the start of the first day so I'll have a look at it again in the morning, but I would imagine it will be difficult to bat on day five."

Although disappointed at missing a century, Moss was pleased to have played his part in such a crucial match given that Victoria lost three wickets in the space of 33 runs early in the day. "The fact is if we win the Pura Cup I won't let it bother me too much," he said. "It would have been great to get the hundred but as cricket goes, sometimes you've got to cop the disappointment. It might hit me later on tonight ... but it's great we're in such a good position and that I contributed to putting us into that good position."

Victoria resumed at 1 for 322 but the morning belonged to Queensland, as Joe Dawes, Andy Bichel and Ashley Noffke removed Brad Hodge (89), Elliott (155) and David Hussey (16) respectively.

But as the sun emerged from the cloud, it rendered the pacemen to spectators and the batsmen went largely untroubled against Hauritz and the part-time spin of Stuart Law and Chris Simpson. Moss hit a six off Law into the MCG construction site and the resulting delay for getting a replacement ball only drew Queensland's agony out further.