WA fight back on flat MCG after pair of Victorian tons

Only eight wickets have fallen across two days in cricket's MCG return, a stark contrast to the Ashes dramas of last summer.

Western Australia did not lose a wicket in the late session on Thursday, reaching 3-185 to leave their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria evenly poised.

Earlier, Peter Handscomb top-scored with an unbeaten 169 and Blake Macdonald made 116 before Victoria declared at 5-402.

"It's pretty nice for batting out there - a little bit in it with the new ball," Macdonald said.

"But then after that, it's pretty hard work for the bowlers, not a lot doing at the moment.

"Hopefully it starts breaking up over the next couple of days and we can push for a win late on day four."

When David Moody snared the wickets of veteran WA opener Cameron Bancroft for 37 and No.3 Jayden Goodwin (22), the visitors went to tea on the back foot at 3-90.

But Aaron Hardie and Corey Wasley settled in for an unbroken 101-run stand through to stumps. 

Hardie was on 61 from 116 balls and Wasley had scored 41 in his 108-ball knock.

This is Macdonald's first Shield game of the season and playing WA at the MCG clearly agrees with him.

His only other Sheffield Shield ton was an unbeaten 109 last December, when he guided Victoria to a win over WA at the same venue.

He and Handscomb put on 204 for the fourth wicket.

"Batting with Pete for the whole time ... it was pretty awesome," Macdonald said.

"I'm sure I will remember that at the end of my career."

West Australian spinner Corey Rocchiccioli took 2-70 from 22 overs.

2026-27 Sheffield Shield standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	2.31	2.9	18.21
2 Western Australia Men WA	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	2.53	2.5	18.03
3 Queensland Bulls QLD	3	1	1	0	1	0	-1	2.18	3	11.18
4 South Australia Men SA	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	1.42	2.4	9.82
5 NSW Men NSW	3	0	1	0	2	0	0	4.77	2.4	9.17
6 Victoria Men VIC	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	1.58	2.4	4.98

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points