VICTORIA has claimed a 164-run win over Queensland to jump the Bulls into second on the Sheffield Shield ladder. Chasing an improbable total of 351, with 286 required on the final day at the MCG, the visitors were rolled for 185 before tea as their batting had few answers for the polished Vics.

Queensland resumed on day four at 2-65 and with feint hope of snatching the points, but fell apart in a collapse of 4-30 before lunch. Fergus O’Neil trapped Bulls number 11 Liam Guthrie in front to seal the win, marking a successful start to life as stand-in Victorian captain for Will Sutherland.

New Victorian one-day skipper Marcus Harris laid the foundation for victory with his day one ton, spearheading a first innings total of 307. Sutherland (4-35) and O’Neil (3-36) then combined to tear through Queensland, who only managed 175 in reply. The latter dismissed the first three Bulls batters.

The hosts’ second dig was less convincing, though a career-best knock of 75 from nightwatchman Mitchell Perry put his side in a winning position as the lead crept up to 350 by innings’ end. It proved too steep a task for the Bulls, who return home for their next match against New South Wales on Tuesday week.

>> Refresher: Sheffield Shield season so far

There are two ongoing games in the Shield’s return week, with South Australia and NSW in the box seat to take out their respective bouts. The Redbacks (7d-438 & 6d-191) declared twice to set Western Australia 467 for victory at Adelaide Oval, with the Warriors (162 & 2-139) requiring 329 on the final day.

Cameron Bancroft (79) and Hilton Cartwright (23) will resume play for the visitors, who are clear atop the table. Daniel Drew was South Australia’s catalyst with his unbeaten first innings knock of 208, while Nathan McSweeney (104*) passed triple figures in the Redbacks’ second dig.

There is plenty of firepower to come for the ladder leading Warriors, with Aaron Hardie and Josh Inglis fresh off outstanding BBL tournaments, while Marcus Stoinis is set to come in at seven. The latter was WA’s only batter to notch a half-century in the first innings.

Over at the SCG, New South Wales is primed for a big victory in its clash with Tasmania. Daniel Hughes starred with 178 as his Blues won the toss and elected to bat, while teammates Kurtis Patterson (56), Jason Sangha (54), and Chris Green (59*) all contributed to the hosts’ first innings score of 8d-417.

Heading into day three, Tasmania sits in a perilous position at 5-89, still 328 runs behind and at serious risk of being made to follow on. Ben McDermott (22) and Beau Webster (8) remain at the crease and will resume proceedings with a mountain to climb. Blues bowler Sean Abbott has 3-20 (15) to his name.