Glenn Maxwell did his Ashes chances no harm with a well-crafted half-century for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.
The Bushrangers were 9-337 at stumps on the second day at the MCG in reply to the Redbacks' first innings total of 322.
Maxwell pressed his claims on the No.6 spot in the Australian Test line-up, with a 120-run partnership with centurion Marcus Harris before he was bowled by Daniel Worrall on 60 from 113 balls.
Maxwell was circumspect early in his innings, making 16 from his first 63 balls, but picked up the pace after lunch on Sunday.
He smashed eight fours and a six before a bouncer from Worrall struck him on the chest, the ball bouncing back onto his stumps.
"It was nice to spend a bit of time out in the middle and put a big partnership on with Harry out there - he batted beautifully," Maxwell said.
"We thought we could really dominate the game but unfortunately losing those wickets there at the end of the day just put a dampener on what should have been a really dominant day for us."
Maxwell wouldn't be drawn on what he felt the innings would do for his chances of playing in the first Test at the Gabba.
But he took plenty of positives out of the knock.
"What I'm doing is working," he said.
"But I'm still working to get better and make sure that I can become the finished product at some stage."
Harris made 103 off 138 balls with his knock including 12 fours and two sixes.
Victoria were poised to build a big lead at 4-325, but lost five wickets for just 12 runs to close out the day.
Chris Tremain and Fawad Ahmed are the not-out batsmen overnight on four and nought respectively.
Aaron Finch chimed in with 62 and Peter Handscomb was out for 43 when part-time spinner Jake Lehmann took an outstanding return catch to claim his maiden first-class wicket.
The Redbacks resumed at 6-291 on Sunday morning but the home side made short work of their tail.
A quickfire 103 from Lehmann was the highlight of the first day's action, but Tom Cooper (70 not out) was the only batsman to offer any resistance early on day two.
Victorian quick Scott Boland (4-71) got the important breakthrough when he bowled Joe Mennie for 18.
Ahmed claimed the final three wickets to finish with figures of 3-82.
Worrall (3-61) and Chadd Sayers (3-60) were the pick of the Redbacks' bowlers.
