Victoria's campaign for a third straight Sheffield Shield title continues to gather momentum after a crushing 198-run win over NSW at the SCG on Sunday.
The Bushrangers bowled out the Blues for 192 half an hour after tea on the final day to secure their third outright win from as many matches this season, following convincing victories over Tasmania and Queensland.
With the Blues and South Australia each losing outright on Sunday, after winning their first two games, Victoria have moved almost six points clear at the top.
"The Victorian squad is playing really good cricket at the moment, we've got a great culture going on," said Bushrangers batsman Peter Handscomb, who earned man-of-the-match honours and a Test call up for his career-best innings of 215.
"Everyone is having a great time putting on the blue hat for us and doing what they can, putting the team first, which is really awesome.
"It's showing because we've had three really good wins now and hopefully going into Christmas we can get a final two."
Resuming at 1-39, NSW never seriously threatened to get close to their target of 391 on a wearing wicket.
Pacemen Chris Tremain and Scott Boland each picked up three wickets and spinner Jon Holland and allrounder Dan Christian both claimed two scalps.
Opener Daniel Hughes topscored for NSW with 54 and no-one else reached 40, and the Blues' highest partnership of the innings was a sixth-wicket stand of 40 between Maddinson and Moises Henriques.
Hughes, NSW and Australian captain Steve Smith and Kurtis Patterson were all dismissed by deliveries which appeared to keep low.
The Bushrangers dominated the game on a wicket which deteriorated after they made 6-510 on the first two days.
Despite pre-match predictions the spinners would prosper, new ball bowlers Tremain and Boland combined for 13 wickets, with the latter finishing with match figures of 7-53 from 33 overs, 17 of which were maidens.
Asked for reasons why the Blues lost, new Australian Test squad member Maddinson said: "Can I say a lost toss?"
"They played really well, they applied themselves.
"They knew the wicket was good for batting day one and they didn't really give us a sniff."
In round four starting next Saturday, Victoria host SA at the MCG, while NSW face Tasmania in Hobart.
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