Maddinson continues strong Shield return to put Vics on top

Resurgent Victoria batter Nic Maddinson has scored a century for a second-straight Marsh Sheffield Shield match to continue his impressive return from a serious knee injury.

The former Test player hit a superb 108 from 136 balls to put Victoria into a commanding position at stumps on day two against NSW at the SCG on Saturday.

Victoria are 2-277, holding a first-innings lead of 25, with Will Pucovski (69 no) and Peter Handscomb (65 no) still at the crease.

Maddinson's 17th first-class century comes two weeks after he hit a dominant 104 against South Australia in his first Shield innings since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a BBL game on New Year's Day 2023.

Despite struggling for form during his return to cricket in the BBL for the Melbourne Renegades, Maddinson has quickly returned to his best in the longer form of the game.

Maddinson put on a 114-run opening stand with Marcus Harris (32) in reply to NSW's 252.

Test spinner Nathan Lyon (2-92 from 30 overs) claimed both Victorian wickets in his last Shield appearance before embarking on Australia's tour of New Zealand.

But it has been tough going in the field for the Blues, rotating through seven bowlers as they search for breakthroughs.

Pucovski will be vying to score his seventh first-class century when play resumes on Sunday.

The talented 26-year-old missed Victoria's last-start Shield win against South Australia due to suffering delayed symptoms of concussion.

But Pucovski, regarded as one of Australia's brightest batting prospects, recently spoke about feeling more on top of his mental health battles and concussion issues than ever before.

Pucovski's last first-class century came back in November 2020, two months before he made his one and only Test appearance.

The ease with which Victoria's batters handled the conditions makes their performance in the field on Friday all the more impressive.

Victoria captain Will Sutherland starred with figures of 5-51 to decimate the NSW line-up, with only Jack Edwards (99) and Matthew Gilkes (51) fighting hard.

Victoria remain in contention to secure a spot in a third-straight Shield final with three rounds still to be completed.

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points