Harris and Handscomb dig in on difficult MCG pitch

Victoria 201 for 4 (Harris 73, Handscomb 66) vs Queensland

Victoria battled their means by way of a gradual first day of their Sheffield Shield conflict with Queensland on the MCG.

Coming off a century on a flat pitch on the Junction Oval in opposition to Tasmania final week, this knock, from 212 balls, was arguably higher because it was made in powerful circumstances.

Harris, together with Cameron Bancroft, is in line to interchange David Warner when the veteran opener bows out of Test cricket in January. He was finally bowled considerably unluckily because the ball rebounded from his pad into leg stump.

Victoria’s run-rate is sitting at simply above two-an-over they usually might want to elevate that considerably on Friday in the event that they need to power a end result within the four-day match.

Queensland have been rocked by the withdrawals of quicks Michael Neser and Mark Steketee forward of the match. Coming off two agonising defeats in a row, the Bulls are with out arguably their two most necessary bowlers.

Neser returned to Brisbane to be together with his associate giving beginning, whereas Steketee wakened feeling sick and withdrew from the workforce.

Former Western Australian bowler Liam Guthrie was introduced into the Queensland workforce.

Guthrie claimed the important thing wicket of Will Pucovski, who has been under his prolific finest since returning to the Shield facet this season, for five.

Queensland and Victoria sit within the backside two spots on the desk with every state solely having received one sport from their first 4 matches to start out the season.