Michael Hill’s maiden Sheffield Shield century and an unbeaten 74 from captain Cameron White took Victoria to a valuable set of first-innings points on the third day of the match against Queensland at the MCG.

The 24-year-old Hill was unbeaten on 128 with Victoria 3-332 at lunch in reply to Queensland’s 322.

Former Australian under 19s captain Hill registered his century in 311 minutes from 243 balls when he advanced to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and bludgeoned him down to the long-on boundary.

It was just the second century of an injury-plagued first class career, adding to the unbeaten 105 he made against the touring English team at the MCG in 2010.

The left-hander was given a life at 74 when he nicked Cameron Gannon to first slip only for Peter Forrest to spill the straightforward opportunity.

Meanwhile, White was the more aggressive of the pair, striking a straight six from Ronan McDonald’s bowling.

Hill and White added an unbroken 143 for the fourth wicket, and Victoria gleaned 120 runs in a prolonged morning session without losing a wicket, having resumed at 3-212.

Queensland are a bowler down after scans confirmed that the season is over for paceman Matthew Gale, who injured a knee in a fielding accident on Tuesday.

Gale has sustained medial ligament damage and will not take any further part in the match.

The Bulls already are missing Ben Cutting and Alister McDermott, who are representing Australia ‘A’ in Hobart.

Victoria will climb to the top of the Shield table, at least temporarily, with the two points for a first-innings win.

But the Bushrangers are set to push for an outright victory on Thursday that would give them a strong chance of playing off in next month’s final.