Dean in rare air as he carries bat again for Victoria

Travis Dean has become the third Victorian to carry their bat through a Sheffield Shield innings twice after scoring an unbeaten 144 against New South Wales.

Playing in his first Marsh Sheffield Shield match of the year after Marcus Harris was elevated to the Test squad, Dean helped Victoria to 271 on day three of the SCG clash in reply to the Blues 233.

NSW went to stumps at 2-76 with a lead of 38, with Kurtis Patterson holding steady on 43 after James Pattinson took two early wickets.

Dean's knock marked the second time in the opener's career he has carried the bat, after doing likewise in a match against NSW five seasons ago.

That innings is still counted as Dean carrying the bat, despite Victoria having just 10 batters with Will Pucovski absent hurt.

Before Dean, only Matt Elliott and Bill Lawry have done so twice or more for Victoria in the 129-year history of the Sheffield Shield.

"They are greats of the game so it is good to be mentioned with them," Dean said.

"It's a good achievement. But I am just trying to take my position in the team and do what I can when others are away.

"What happens, happens. But if I make runs it's up to selectors to push from there on in if I get another game.

"This could be my only game for the season and if it is, then I am happy I performed."

The right-hander was near faultless in his 300-ball knock, playing nicely square of the wicket but remaining patient under heavy cloud cover.

He held the innings together after Victoria fell to 3-2 late on day one, before forming a 142-run fourth-wicket stand with Jonathan Merlo that was punctuated by a washed-out day two.

And after Merlo went lbw to Moises Henriques when he was trapped on the crease, Dean continued.

He brought up his seventh first-class hundred when he worked Chris Tremain off his pads for two runs and offered up his only chance on 43 when dropped by Patterson at second slip.

Pattinson struck eight boundaries in his entertaining 45 in a 111-run stand with Dean that pushed the visitors past the NSW first-innings score.

Tremain was the Blues' best after doing the damage early with 4-52, while spinner Tanveer Sangha again claimed wickets with 3-60.

Victoria have beaten NSW in both their previous clashes over the past month, but Sydney's wet weather will make pushing for a result difficult for either team.

The game was scheduled to finish on Monday but had to be pushed back one day at the start after Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland's positive COVID-19 case.