Veteran recruit Colin Miller (3/51) has struck twice in the space of three deliveries to lead Victoria into a strong position by stumps on day two of the Pura Cup clash with New South Wales in Melbourne. Miller's removal of dangermen Michael Bevan (39) and Brad Haddin (2) in a dramatic over in late afternoon helped the Bushrangers reduce the Blues to the first innings score of 6/183 by the time that an end to the first five hours of the rain-reduced match was called.

That any play at all was possible at Punt Road after several days of drenching rain was, in itself, a remarkable tribute to the ground staff. Again, the saturated state of the bowlers' run-ups saw to it that the second morning was wiped out just like the first. But this time, the absence of any more rain opened a window of opportunity, albeit a narrow one, and play duly began at just after two o'clock.

By the time that it did, the Victorians had already struck a major blow by winning the toss. This gave them the opportunity to send the Blues in to bat and exploit their top and middle order in conditions which frustrated strokeplay and quick run-scoring. Michael Slater (13), despite being passed fit to play and not showing any outward signs of discomfort from the much-publicised finger injury he sustained two days ago, never really looked comfortable. He played several streaky shots and, after a wild pull at Paul Reiffel (2/31), had his knock abruptly ended for him. Captain Steve Waugh (13), the victim of a loose cover drive at Mathew Inness (1/54), did not take long to join him in the pavilion. And then even worse was to come when makeshift opener Corey Richards (30) played a frustrated hook at Reiffel, one completely out of character with his extremely patient batting until then, and picked out Miller at fine leg.

In the most attractive partnership of the day, Mark Waugh (53) and Bevan then came together to add some respectability back to the New South Wales scoreboard. Waugh's ability to conquer the brilliant leg spinning talents of Shane Warne (0/38) through the clever use of his feet in the midst of a tantalising battle was probably, in fact, the major highlight of the day. Although the latter was particularly uncomfortable early, and clearly nowhere near as assured against Warne, the Bushrangers found few answers to the pair's steady accumulation of a priceless sixty-seven runs for the fourth wicket. A liaison, it should be said, which was worth considerably more than that in view of the snail-like pace of the outfield.

But that was all before Miller, back in Victorian colours for the first time in fifteen long seasons, struck. By first encouraging Waugh to try and hit a delivery high and hard over the on side - and producing a towering shot for Warne to stand under and bobble at slip - the wily off spinner produced the most crucial dismissal of the day. And so it was that, in luring a horribly out-thought Bevan well out of his crease with a wild, airy swing and finding Haddin's outside edge with a beautifully pitched off break, he was able to put some delightful finishing touches on what turned out to be a great start to the Bushrangers' new first-class campaign.

For the home team, Warne also bowled well. Until leaving the field for treatment on a finger after his juggled attempt to catch Waugh, he had beaten a succession of batsmen with glorious flight and turn on a receptive surface. Inness also performed creditably, although the Victorian pacemen as a group should, in truth, feel disappointed about the predominantly leg side line they bowled today.

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