Victoria crash for 114 as Warriors take charge

Western Australia 277 (Pomersbach 89, Denton 3-58) and 1 for 81 (Langer 49) lead Victoria 114 (White 46, Hogg 3-21, Magoffin 3-27) by 244 runs
Scorecard

Western Australia extended their lead to 244 with the best partnership of the match after Brad Hogg and Steve Magoffin helped restrict Victoria to a mediocre 114 at the MCG. Justin Langer and Michael Hussey (29 not out) guided the Warriors to 1 for 81 at stumps, stumbling on the final ball when Langer overcommitted to a single and was run out for 49 trying to turn back.

After Victoria outplayed the Warriors on day one but failed to hold their catches, Western Australia had complete control on day two. Hogg would have liked a lengthy spell to show the selectors his Test potential but the Bushrangers' rapid demise denied him the opportunity. However, his 3 for 21 proved useful in finishing off the home side after Cameron White tried to consolidate following their early troubles.

White (46) guided Victoria through a slow-moving middle session in which they added 66 but still leaked four wickets. He was sedate by his standards, managing only one four and slog-sweeping Hogg for a six as Victoria's run-rate stayed below two.

The seam movement and swing that the Bushrangers exploited on Friday returned for Western Australia and Steve Magoffin and Mathew Inness enjoyed tying the home side down. The big disappointment for Victoria was Brad Hodge, who scored 2 while opening and virtually assured Phil Jaques of a Test call-up.

Hodge was deceived by Inness, who was moving the ball away before jagging one back to take middle and off stump in the second over. Inness was playing his first state match since December 2005, bowling with nagging line and length and finishing with 2 for 15 from 13 overs.

Magoffin was damaging at the top of the order, drawing an edge behind from Nick Jewell in the first over and removing David Hussey (15) the same way. Hogg cleaned up at the end and the Warriors' ability to hold their chances - the best was Shaun Marsh running back with the flight at midwicket to remove Gerard Denton - was important. Western Australia added five to their overnight total, reaching 277 before Denton (3 for 58) had Darren Wates caught behind in the fifth over of the day.