Maddinson supreme as Vics gain small edge

Victoria grabbed the momentum against Queensland late on a topsy-turvy day three of their Sheffield Shield match with Nic Maddinson hitting a crucial century.

MARCUS HARRIS. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Nic Maddinson has celebrated his 100th first-class match with a 15th career century as Victoria claimed a narrow ascendency in their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.

Victoria made the most of a 90-minute session with the ball as Queensland stumbled their way to 3-69 at stumps on the penultimate day's play at Junction Oval, a lead of just 58 runs.

Young paceman Mitch Perry (2-20) made a crucial breakthrough with the early wicket of former Test batter Joe Burns, caught behind for 13, while also picking up fellow opener Bryce Street (24).

Spinner Jon Holland (1-20) claimed the key wicket of Matt Renshaw for six, while breakthrough Test star Scott Boland went wicketless across his six overs.

Earlier, Maddinson remained unbeaten on 110 after a typically hard-hitting 147-ball knock that included 11 boundaries and one six.

It was a second century of the season for Maddinson, who also struck a fast-scoring 82 last weekend at Adelaide Oval.

It was the NSW-born batter's seventh century in just 24 matches since linking with Victoria in 2018.

Ladder-leaders Victoria appeared on track for a significant lead only to lose their final seven wickets for just 24 runs.

Instead they had to be satisfied with a narrow 11-run lead on the first innings after a dramatic late-order collapse.

Mark Steketee, who this week was called up for Australia's Test tour of Pakistan, and Gurinder Sandhu inspired the spectacular fall of wickets.

Steketee (3-92) kick-started it by knocking over Matt Short (43) and ending a 143-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Sandhu (5-65) then ran through the tail with Victoria's lower-order registering five ducks.

Earlier in the day, Test opener Marcus Harris narrowly missed a century in his final match before the Pakistan tour.

Harris,resumed on 88, but added just three to his overnight tally before flashing a James Bazley delivery to gully.

It ended a 180-run second-wicket partnership with Peter Handscomb (92), with the Victorian captain soon following his teammate back to the pavilion when he was bowled by leg-spinner Mitch Swepson.

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