Victorian No.3 Brad Hodge scored his second century in as many Pura Cup innings as Victoria finally hit batting form here today at the start of the match against Western Australia at the MCG.

Hodge became the Cup season's second-highest scorer behind Queenslander Jimmy Maher and reached 5000 domestic first-class runs in his career as he reached 100 on the third-last ball of the day.

He joined Jon Moss in a 120-run stand for the third wicket, stabilising the innings and taking the Bushrangers to 2-313 at stumps.

Western Australia started the match on 18 points, two behind second-placed South Australia and needing at least a first-innings success as it competes for a berth in next month's Cup final.

But Victoria will most likely declare after lunch tomorrow in a formidable position, after captain Matthew Elliott won the toss and made the most of an even-paced pitch.

Elliott made 88 and put on 145 for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Matthew Mott, recalled for this match after Jason Arnberger was unavailable through injury.

Elliott and Mott would be kicking themselves, as they looked well-set for centuries after the skipper edged Michael Clark over gully when four and Mott survived an lbw appeal in the second over of the match.

Former Victorian paceman Brad Williams, bowling around the wicket, had Elliott caught behind with a good ball.

But Mott had no-one to blame but himself, turning a full toss from left-arm spinner Brad Hogg straight to Chris Rogers at mid-wicket for 84.

It was Elliott's sixth 50 of the summer for an average of 49.6.

With Hodge looking a little scratchy early, WA suddenly had the chance to put itself back in the game and had a throw from Hogg hit the stumps, Moss would have been run out for a duck.

Hodge also had a break earlier when his inside edge off Jo Angel hit his foot and rolled away from the stumps.

But the pair settled in and Hodge steadily grew in confidence, smacking Williams to the boundary three times in one over to reach 91.

His ton, the fourth of the season for him in the Cup, came off 178 balls and featured 13 boundaries.

Hodge overtook domestic player of the year Darren Lehmann to become the second-highest scorer this season behind Maher, with the Victorian now on 802 at 72.91 and the Queenslander on 873 at 62.35.

Andrew McDonald was made 12th man for Victoria and Kade Harvey is carrying the drinks for WA.

© 2002 AAP