As long as they had taken the precaution of packing sunscreen as well as a coat, and perhaps even an umbrella for the journey home, spectators at the opening of this Pura Cup match between Victoria and Queensland couldn't have had too many grounds for complaint today. Because, around weather which underscored Melbourne's capacity to produce a full range of seasons in the course of one day, they saw Matthew Hayden play a glorious innings and watched his Test teammate Shane Warne help to offset its impact by igniting a collapse.

As the Pura Cup finalists of the last two seasons were drawn into battle, the first day rapidly looked like becoming a no-contest. Having won the toss and gained a decided advantage by having the first chance to bat on a placid pitch, the Queenslanders were quick to assert the authority that they have consistently hawked over the Victorians in big matches over recent years.

Hayden (145*) was at the heart of the Bulls' progress en route to a scoreline of 7/305 by the time that bad light fatally intervened, joining with Jimmy Maher (96) in an opening stand of 176, and then forging another union of 74 with Martin Love (33) for the second wicket.

A near-flawless exhibition of strokeplay from Hayden delivered his second first-class century in the space of five days, albeit that he initially played second fiddle to the even more aggressive Maher. His shotmaking was typically authoritative and, in replicating many of the methods that brought him success against spin bowling on Australia's recent tour of India, he also looked the most capable batsman against the Bushrangers' two best bowlers - Warne (3/90) and Colin Miller (1/81).

Only one wicket fell - and even that came courtesy of a brilliant running catch from Mathew Inness as he raced in some 20 metres off the fine leg fence to claim a top edged sweep from Maher at full stretch - in the opening four-and-a-half hours, and very few false shots were even played.

As the temperature cooled and sunny skies gave way to overcast ones, though, the state of the match altered in kind. It wasn't only the almost mass donning of jumpers which made the two teams look completely different, but also Victoria's sudden capacity to gain movement from a previously barren surface and to hold some difficult catches instead of dropping them.

Thirty minutes into the final session, medium pacer Ian Harvey (2/36) convinced Umpire Parry of the merits of an lbw decision against Love and the shift was under way. Harvey had endured a frustrating morning, spilling particularly difficult chances at slip from Warne's bowling when Maher was on 22 and Hayden on 41 respectively, but wasted little time in turning matters around. The second scalp in a procession that saw five crash in total for the addition of just 11 runs came when Clinton Perren (1) drove outside the line of a ball that seamed back marginally at him.

The Bushrangers' recovery was assisted by further controversial lbw decisions against Andrew Symonds (1), struck as he came well forward to defend a ball that pitched only a few inches in front of his lunging front pad, and Stuart Law (3), who seemed to inside edge another Warne delivery into his pads.

And great catching also helped: short leg fieldsman Jason Arnberger magnificently intercepting a shot played off the toes by Wade Seccombe (1) and Warne hanging on to the proceeds of a slash to end a mini-revival from Hayden and Andy Bichel (15).

Whatever was on the Victorians' menu at tea now looks likely to be incorporated into their diets on a more regular basis.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd