Christian helps Victoria secure first-innings lead

Daniel Christian fell just short of a sixth first-class century but ensured Victoria took a first-innings lead over Tasmania on the second day at the MCG. Christian's entertaining 95 and a half-century from Peter Handscomb helped Victoria to 271 before they were bowled out, 30 runs ahead of the Tigers, and by stumps Tasmania were 3 for 62 in their second innings.

Jake Doran was unbeaten on 18 at the close of play with Alex Doolan on 7, and Australia's Test squad members Peter Siddle and James Pattinson had both made breakthroughs. Pattinson had Ben Dunk caught at slip for 4 before Siddle had first-innings centurion Beau Webster caught behind for 13, and the final wicket of the day was Jordan Silk caught for 17 off the bowling of Chris Tremain.

Victoria had started the morning at 0 for 10 but they soon stumbled to 3 for 45 after losing three wickets in the space of two overs to Jackson Bird and Andrew Fekete. Cameron White's return to the Sheffield Shield for the first time this season did not go according to his plan, out for a golden duck when he clipped Fekete to square leg.

But debutant Ian Holland (24) and then Handscomb and Christian steadied the Victoria innings. Handscomb managed 50 before he became one of four wickets for Sam Rainbird, and Christian struck five sixes and ten fours on his way to 95 from 136 balls before he was the last man out, bowled by Fekete having secured Victoria's lead.