Pucovski, Maddinson return to Shield in style

Victoria are 2-205 at stumps on day two of the Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales but will be without Aaron Finch for the rest of the MCG encounter.

The Australian T20 skipper was subbed out of the match with a concussion suffered during Saturday's opening session.

He was struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg when Steve O'Keefe played a full-blooded shot off his pads off the bowling of Test paceman James Pattinson.

Finch was initially cleared to remain on the field, and did so until the Blues' first innings of 294 ended 16 overs later, but experienced delayed concussion symptoms and was ruled out during the lunch break.

In his return from a break to concentrate on his mental health, Will Pucovski batted well for his 62 and will resume on Sunday with skipper Peter Handscomb (44).

Finch had been slated to come in at No.5 but his place has been taken by Travis Dean, who was batting for premier cricket side Footscray at Windy Hill when he received the call to quickly make his way to the MCG.

The loss of the star veteran is a significant setback for the bottom-of-the-table Vics, who are searching for their first win of the season.

Nic Maddinson, also returning from an absence to deal with mental health issues, made 59 before he was dismissed by Sean Abbott (1-52 from 16 overs) shortly before tea.

Earlier, half-centuries to Abbott and Peter Nevill helped the Blues to a first-innings total that appeared unlikely after they struck early trouble.

Having been sent in by Handscomb on Friday, the visitors slumped to 5-114 but Abbott and Nevill combined to guide their side to 6-223 at stumps on day one.

Their seventh-wicket partnership of 93 runs ended when Pattinson removed Abbott for 54, with Nevill departing for 50 in the next over.

On a recast MCG wicket that's showing more signs of life than it has in recent times, Peter Siddle and Pattinson were the pick of the Victorian bowlers.

Siddle finished with figures of 3-52 from 26 overs, including seven maidens, and Pattinson 3-62 from 28 (six maidens).

NSW opener Nick Larkin (50 from 116 balls) played an important innings after opening partner Daniel Hughes (1) and No.4 Moises Henriques (0) fell cheaply.