White shines with 150 despite rain and hail

Tasmania 0 for 21 trail Victoria 6 for 429 dec (Hodge 153, White 150*, Griffith 3-77) by 408 runs
Scorecard

Cameron White posted his highest Pura Cup score on a day when only 33 overs were possible as rain and hail provided constant interruptions at the MCG. But the day ended on a sour note for Victoria when Mick Lewis left the field with a hip injury as Tasmania replied to the Bushrangers' 6 for 429 declared. Victoria's fast-bowling stocks are already depleted and it could leave Gerard Denton to shoulder most of the pace burden for this match with backup from Andrew McDonald and Jon Moss.

Victoria added 100 runs to their overnight score in a stop-start innings. After an opening session that lasted only six minutes due to poor weather, McDonald was the only wicket to fall, getting a thick edge to the wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer off the bowling of Adam Griffith for 22.

White was eager to score quickly, hitting a Dan Marsh delivery for six into the vacant seats at long-on and sending George Bailey on a wild-goose chase for the ball. Another rain break came before White returned for four balls to bring up his 150 and declare immediately.

At one stage the ground looked more like a Winter Olympics venue than a cricket oval after a brief hailstorm left the outfield almost completely white. The groundstaff struggled to hold the covers down as Melbourne's fickle weather blew a gale but within an hour the hail had melted and play resumed.

The umpires took the players from the ground five times throughout the day and with showers again possible on Thursday the chances of an outright result could depend on how adventurous the captains White and Ricky Ponting are.