Under-17s rolled for 183 before rain

NSW progressed to 0-7 off 2.3 overs before rain stopped play for the day.

Earlier, Victoria made a brilliant start to their innings as Matthew Underwood (44), who replaced Zachary Elliott at the top of the order, and Nick King (22) put on 66 runs for the first wicket.

Captain Will Pucovski (18) continued to propel Victoria’s innings in the right direction before he was dismissed having made yet another start.

Blake Thomson took his tournament runs total to 192 (average of 38.4) when he scored 36 in a 47-run stand with keeper Ryan Hartley (17).

They were both dismissed with the score on 153 however, triggering a lower-order collapse.

Victoria lost its last six wickets for just 30 runs, but bowler Xavier Crone (14) showed some resistance, smashing three fours before becoming NSW Metro leg-spinner Devlin Malone’s fifth wicket of the innings.

NSW Metro will resume today (weather permitting) trailing Victoria by 176 runs with all wickets in hand.

Victoria will need something special to get the outright victory required to snatch an unlikely championship win.