Hodge comes good late in the day

MELBOURNE, March 7 AAP - Whatever happened to Brad Hodge during the last drinks break at the MCG here today, it certainly worked.

The out-of-form Victorian No.4 transformed from a slow 16 to a blazing 68 in the hour before stumps as his side reached 4-245 t the close of the second day of the Pura Cup match against Western Australia

Whether it was a refreshing drink, a message from the dressing room or just a decision on Hodge's part to come out of his shell, he suddenly looked more like the batsman judged last summer's Pura Cup player of the year.

Jon Moss was also unbeaten on 18, with Victoria needing another 31 runs to take the first-innings points it desperately needs.

Victoria and New South Wales had the same number of points going into their games this week, but the Blues will play Queensland in the Cup final if they stay deadlocked on Sunday because NSW has more outright wins.

Victoria must have a better result over the next two days than the Blues.

The home side will build a decent lead over WA tomorrow if Hodge can compile the decent score that has eluded him this campaign.

After scoring four Cup centuries last summer, Hodge's highest score so far this season is 96 last November against South Australia.

WA resumed this morning at 9-262 and leg-spinner Cameron White soon wrapped up the innings to finish with 6-66.

Openers Jason Arnberger (54) and Matthew Mott (61) had an opening stand of 107, but they were out in the space of 12 runs when they played poor shots and were caught.

Left-arm spinner Beau Casson had 2-86, removing Mott and also No.3 Matthew Elliott for 25, but came in for some punishment from Hodge as the Victorian gained confidence.

Hodge and Moss had put on 48 for the fifth wicket and the Bushrangers will expect them to take the score past the first-innings target on a slow, even pitch.