Tasmania declared their first innings at 5-439 with Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 162 on Wednesday’s second day of their Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.

The visitors had resumed on their overnight score of 3-315 with former Test captain Ponting on 89.

In his first Shield game at the MCG since November 2006, Ponting warmed up for next month’s three-Test series against South Africa by hitting 20 boundaries and one six in a superb display.

Ponting’s 242-ball innings lasted eight minutes shy of six hours.

James Faulkner was 30 not out.

Medium-pacer John Hastings (2-58 off 25 overs) was Victoria’s only multiple wicket-taker after removing skipper George Bailey (19) and Tim Paine (14) in the opening session on Wednesday.

Tasmania batted on half an hour after lunch before Bailey’s declaration.

The 37-year-old Ponting had some luck on 141 when Test paceman Peter Siddle (1-99) dropped a hard-hit return catch.

Test cricket’s second-leading runscorer reached his 78th first-class century off 144 deliveries with a leg-glance to the boundary from the bowling of Test quick James Pattinson (0-89) in the fourth over of the day.

Australia’s series against South Africa starts on November 9 in Brisbane.