An unbroken century stand between veterans Cameron White and David Hussey gave Victoria some chance of extracting themselves from the mire against NSW in the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.

White (68no) and Hussey (59no) batted through the final session of Friday’s second day to pull the match around after NSW appeared hellbent on an outright win.

By stumps, the contest was finely balanced, with Victoria 4-224 in their second innings, leading by 84 runs with six wickets in hand.

The Blues were dismissed for 268 in the morning session, giving them a healthy lead of 140 and, when the Bushrangers slumped to 4-97 at tea – still 43 runs behind – the Shield’s bottom team were on the verge of a major upset.

But White, the Victorian captain, was having a fine day. He had grabbed 3-4 from 4.3 overs of legspin at the end of the Blues’ first innings, and he continued his return to form with the bat in the afternoon, hitting three sixes.

Hussey had not previously scored a half-century in one of his driest Shield seasons, but he dug in with his captain and smashed Steve O’Keefe over long-off for six to reach his 50 just before stumps.

NSW were one bowler short after left-armer Doug Bollinger broke down with a hamstring strain after just nine deliveries with the new ball in Victoria’s second innings, and the 30-degree-plus heat took its toll.

But the Blues were efficient with the ball and in the field, Peter Nevill completing a brilliant right-handed, diving slips catch to dismiss Chris Rogers, and Brad Haddin making a slick leg-side stumping of Rob Quiney (45) while standing up to the medium-pace of Trent Copeland.