The race for first-innings points is evenly poised after Victoria lost two quick wickets late on day two of their rain-interrupted Bupa Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at the SCG.
In reply to the Blues' total of 293, the Bushrangers got to 5-175 before rain stopped play at 5.52pm local time.
The visitors held the upper hand for most of the day before a two-hour rain delay turned momentum the hosts' way.
Resuming at 3-161 after rain intervened, the Vics lost Glenn Maxwell (39) and Peter Handscomb (golden duck) in quick succession before play was abandoned for the day.
Veteran opener Chris Rogers carried his bat for the visitors and will resume on 84 not out, while skipper Cameron White is the other not-out batsman on two.
Rogers' chanceless knock has included 12 boundaries on a lifeless SCG wicket offering some variable bounce.
All-rounder Moises Henriques (2-13) took the first two wickets of the innings to continue his rich vein of form, while Test hopeful Mitchell Starc (1-50), Josh Hazlewood (1-45) and Stephen O'Keefe (1-31) all chipped in with a wicket each.
Doug Bollinger (0-37) was best of the NSW quicks, troubling all batsman with pace and bounce, but the big left-armer went unrewarded.
Having survived a testing four-over period late on day one, Rogers and fellow opener Ryan Carters set about building a sizable total in the morning session.
They put on a 69-run opening stand before Carters edged a rising delivery from Moises Henriques to Brad Haddin four overs before the lunch break to depart for 33.
Henriques and Haddin combined to remove Aaron Finch for eight shortly after the resumption, giving the Blues gloveman his 100th Sheffield Shield catch at the SCG.
David Hussey's stay was also brief after dragging the ball back onto his stumps for nine off Starc to leave the visitors precariously placed at 3-94.
Maxwell offered more resistance, surviving the remainder of the middle session before rain intervened for the first time at 3.19pm.
The all-rounder lasted just four overs after the two-hour rain delay before he was well caught in the deep by Starc off O'Keefe for 39, ending a valuable 81-run stand with Rogers.
The Bushrangers suffered another setback almost immediately when Handscomb shouldered arms to Hazlewood and was adjudged lbw first ball.
Play was abandoned six balls later when the rain returned.
First Posted 14 November, 2012 7:30PM AEST
