Wade rescues Vics

A defiant 96 by the feisty Matthew Wade has resurrected Victoria after a disastrous start on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland at the MCG.

At stumps, the Vics were 9-286 with Darren Pattinson 14 not out and Bryce McGain yet to score.

It's not the tally that skipper Cameron White would have hoped for when he won the toss and elected to bat.

But it's a huge improvement on the 5-60 the Bushrangers found themselves after their top order was routed by the Bulls' attack in the opening session.

Wade, who was out in the second-last over chasing what would have been just his second first-class century, found willing allies in John Hastings (47), Damien Wright (42) and Pattinson.

The trio combined with the 'keeper for important partnerships of 86 for the seventh wicket, a quickfire 84 in just 66 minutes for the eighth, and 39 for the ninth.

Wade's innings, which included 12 fours and three glorious sixes, may not have been the highest of his first-class career, but in the context of a tight final with his team in serious strife, it was his most important by far.

Making the most of helpful conditions, the Bulls' pace battery smashed through the Vics' top order in the opening session claiming five wickets in the space of 55 minutes.

All four Queensland quicks, Chris Swan, Luke Feldman, Ben Cutting and the bustling James Hopes got among the wickets with Swan returning the best figures of 3-57.

Mindful that the 'home' team has won 22 of the previous 27 Shield finals, White made the percentage decision to bat after winning the toss in fine, warm conditions.

Openers Rob Quiney - the replacement at the top of the order for the injured Chris Rogers - and Nick Jewell safely negotiated the first half-hour before Quiney, on 15, edged Swan to Chris Hartley, low to the 'keeper's left.

From 1-24, the Vics were 2-33 when Jewell played on to Swan before Hopes snared the prized wicket of David Hussey, caught behind for eight.

Next, it was Feldman's turn to land a double blow when he removed Aaron Finch, caught at point by skipper Chris Simpson for 26, then the out-of-form Andrew McDonald from the very next ball, caught by Hartley, fending at a short one.

Survival was the only goal for White and Wade in the 35 minutes remaining to lunch, but the captain's stay after the break was brief.

Facing his first ball of the session, White was beaten all ends up by a super Cutting leg-cutter that clipped the top of off stump.

Tentative early, Hastings was dropped on two with the score on 87 by Chris Lynn at point from a lofted square drive.

The significance of the miss was rammed home soon after when the big all-rounder clouted successive sixes off Simpson over mid-wicket.

Wade followed Hastings' example with a thumping six over long-on off Simpson in the shadows of tea that hinted at the pair's growing confidence.

The Vics made it to tea at 6-141 with Wade unbeaten on 28 and Hastings 36.

Hastings added 11 to his score when his ambitions got the better of him and he holed out to James Hopes at long-on to give rookie leg-spinner Cameron Boyce his first wicket for the match.

Like Hastings, Wright was given a life early when Lee Carseldine spilled a hot chance at mid-wicket.

But the 34-year-old, the runner-up in voting for the Shield player of the year for his 33 wickets since Christmas, combined with Wade to swing the momentum in the final session Victoria's way.

They were particularly harsh on Boyce whose final four overs cost 41 runs.

It was the re-introduction of pace with the new ball due that brought Wright undone when Swan rattled his leg stump.

Three figures were there for the taking for Wade, but he wasn't prepared to wait.

Attempting to drive a delivery from Hopes that was way too short, the 22-year-old succeeded only in spooning it to a diving Ben Cutting at mid-off.

Rogers was ruled out of the match because of a fractured knuckle on his left hand, sustained in the recent Shield match against Western Australia at the WACA.

The 32-year-old had been confident of being able to bat without pain, but doubts over his ability to field and the strong prospect that the joint could fully fracture forced the selectors' hand.

The Vics made just the one change to the XI that defeated the Tigers outright in the final match of the regular season.

Making his return to the Shield from national duty in New Zealand, White came in for Michael Hill who is 12th man, while the Bulls left Jason Floros and Ben Dunk out of the 13-man squad they brought to Melbourne for the match.

Victoria first innings

Quiney c Hartley by Swan 15 (21)

Jewell b Swan 7 (32)

Finch c Simpson b Feldman 26 (42)

Hussey c Hartley b Hopes 8 (11)

McDonald c Hartley b Feldman 0 (1)

White b Cutting 10 (37)

Wade c Cutting b Hopes 96 (207)

Hastings c Hopes b Boyce 47 (116)

Wright b Swan 42 (53)

Pattinson not out 14 (25)

McGain not out 0 (7)

Extras: 21 (8lb, 12nb, 1w)

Total: 286 (9 wickets, 90 overs)

1-24, 2-33, 3-46, 4-60, 5-60, 6-75, 7-161, 8-245, 9-284

Bowling

Swan 20 - 5 - 57 - 3 (1w)

Cutting 17 - 4 - 48 - 1 (8nb)

Hopes 22 - 8 - 43 - 2 (1nb)

Feldman 15 - 3 - 46 - 2 (2nb)

Simpson 5 - 2 - 25 - 0

Boyce 11 - 1 - 59 - 1