Dan Christian and Peter Handscomb belted centuries as Victoria declared on 5-507 at tea on day three of their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the MCG.

The Bushrangers boasted a 141-run lead when captain Matthew Wade called them in late in Sunday’s second session, Christian and Handscomb sharing an unbeaten 206-run stand.

Wade, who fell in the third over of the day for 59 when he lashed a wide ball to Kurtis Patterson at gully, ended the run fest with Christian on 105 and Handscomb 108.

Handscomb was on 12 when Christian trotted to the middle following David Hussey’s dismissal early in the morning session.

Blues paceman Gurinder Sandhu had just made a nasty first impression with the second new ball, removing Hussey for 129 with a short delivery that reared off the pitch.

With NSW holding a 65-run lead, the match was relatively well poised.

Christian put paid to that, making the most of lives he was offered on 18, 76 and 89 in a dominant display of power batting.

Josh Hazlewood and Ben Rohrer were responsible for the first two reprieves, both grassing incredibly tough one-handed chances.

The allrounder smacked six sixes.

The most eye-catching was a mighty effort off Josh Lalor in the 92nd over that sailed over the left-armer’s head and beyond the sightscreen.

Debutant spinners Will Somerville and Patrick Jackson were taken for a total of 195 runs from their combined 38 wicket-less overs.

Sandhu (3-96 from 28 overs) and Hazlewood (2-99 from 28 overs) were the Blues’ most effective bowlers.

NSW will face 43 overs in the final session.