Test opener Chris Rogers backed up his first-innings 88 with another fine knock of 117 on Saturday as Victoria reached 2-250 at lunch on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against NSW.

Victoria hold an overall lead of 133 at the MCG, with Peter Handscomb on 46 and Cameron White 21 not out in overcast conditions.

The NSW attack was depleted by the absence of fiery quick and Test hopeful Doug Bollinger, who has abdominal soreness.

Bollinger has 1-37 off 13.4 overs but hasn’t bowled on day four and only appeared on the field for a few minutes midway through the morning session.

After rain and bad light limited play to just 59.4 overs on Friday, play started half an hour early at 10am AEDT on Saturday but rain again intervened in the morning session.

Rogers, whose formidable levels of concentration have helped him to bat for nine-and-a-half hours in the match, struck 10 fours and one six from 235 deliveries in his 117.

The 36-year-old left-hander fell caught at mid-on to Test spinner Nathan Lyon on Saturday.

Rogers started the day on 96 and needed just two balls to reach his 63rd first-class hundred off 193 deliveries with a sweep behind square to the boundary off Lyon. The left-hander’s century came off 193 deliveries.

Victoria had resumed on Saturday’s final day of play on 1-175 in their second innings, an overall lead of 58.

Victoria coach Greg Shipperd paid tribute to Rogers.

“He’s giving himself more options and he’s identified areas to score,” Shipperd said of the six-Test veteran’s off-season attempts to build a more attacking game against spin by seeking advice from former Test No.3 Dean Jones.