Finch, Maxwell propel Victoria

Victoria 9 for 342 (Finch 84, Maxwell 63) v South Australia
Scorecard

Half-centuries from Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell propelled Victoria to 9 for 342 on the first day at the MCG. South Australia chose to bowl first and got immediate returns, dismissing both openers with the score still 26. Finch, renowned for his pyrotechnics in the Twenty20 format, showed he could also spend time at the wicket. He lasted 132 deliveries, and scored 84, to set a solid platform for Victoria.

South Australia, though, hit back with a couple of quick strikes: Daniel Christian got Finch to nick behind, and then Christian turned catcher, holding on to one from Robert Quiney to give offspinner Nathan Lyon his first wicket of the innings. Victoria were poised precariously at 156 for 5 at that stage, but Maxwell guarded against a collapse, putting together a couple of solid partnerships, and scoring 63. But the real kick in the teeth for South Australia came in the end. After dimissing Maxwell, they leaked 82 runs to the last-wicket pair of Steve Gilmour and Jayde Herrick, who both went in unbeaten at stumps after having batted out 15.5 overs at the end of the day. No. 11 Herrick added 40 off just 44 balls, while Gilmour got to 29.