Mail posts selectors a thankyou century

New South Wales 9 for 253 dec and 6 for 281 (Mail 125, Hughes 51, McGain 4-83) lead Victoria 8 for 256 dec by 278 runs
Scorecard

Greg Mail, who was a late addition for New South Wales, registered his first Pura Cup century since 2005-06 to give the Blues a healthy lead of 278 at the MCG. At the close of the third day the Blues had 6 for 281 with Dominic Thornely on 48 and Matthew Nicholson out for 20 from the last ball.

It was slow going once again - the run-rate has been below three for the entire match - until Nicholson and Thornely added a brief spark. Nicholson's 16-ball flurry ended when he clipped Bryce McGain to midwicket where Rob Quiney took an excellent catch, giving McGain just reward for his day of hard work.

Mail contributed to the leisurely pace, scoring 125 from 276 balls as Victoria's attack plugged away with only occasional success. He only played because Ed Cowan withdrew with an ankle injury, and would be pleased with his contributions of 43, 125 and 1 for 12. There was no express delivery from Mail, who struck eight fours in his stay of nearly six hours.

He was stuck in the 90s for some time before reaching triple-figures, which was a relief in his first game since his horror 2006-07, when his top score from five matches was 27. He eventually edged an attempted drive to slip off McGain, who was clearly Victoria's best bowler and finished with 4 for 83.

McGain became the first man to dismiss Simon Katich for less than 50 in a Pura Cup game this season when he deceived the batsman with a straighter ball. Katich misjudged the line and feathered a catch to the wicketkeeper, departing for 10 and adding the first blemish to his outstanding first-class summer. Phillip Hughes enhanced his developing reputation with 51 before he flicked McGain to Brad Hodge at midwicket just before lunch.

After the break the other of New South Wales' young top-order prospects, Peter Forrest, was dropped by the bowler McGain only to be run out from the same delivery. After the ball eluded McGain, Forrest took off for a gettable single but his partner Mail was oblivious, and Shane Harwood at mid off threw to the wicketkeeper who removed the bails with Forrest still halfway down the pitch.

It was a rare moment of excitement on a quiet day that the Blues used to set up their tilt at a fourth-day victory. The Bushrangers might need to lift the tempo of the match when they are set a target on a final day that could be interrupted by Melbourne showers.