Mott and Katich the unlikely stars

MELBOURNE, Feb 7 AAP - An oft-overlooked batsman and a part-time spinner were the unlikely stars on day three of the Pura Cup cricket match between Victoria and New South Wales at the MCG.

The Blues held the upper hand with a day to play, thanks to Simon Katich's haul of 6-74 which restricted Victoria to 6-375 at stumps chasing NSW's first innings of 8(dec)-544.

Not a situation that would normally give captain Steve Waugh headaches but he had one anyway after being struck in the temple by an errant Stuart Clark throw while fielding in the covers.

Waugh left the field immediately and was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan.

Victoria's best hopes of securing the two first-innings points and cementing second place on the Pura Cup table rested with Matthew Mott, who batted all day for his highest first-class score of 181 not out.

Mott was only included in the Bushrangers team for his first match of the season after Matthew Elliott was ruled out with a knee injury.

He made the most of his opportunity, resuming on 53 this morning and putting on 223 for the first wicket with Jason Arnberger (105).

"It was a pretty good way to come in really," said Mott, whose previous best first-class score of 154 came two years ago against Western Australia.

"A day before the game I didn't know I was playing so I just looked at it as an absolute bonus.

"Obviously having a good wicket to bat on there were a lot of positive thoughts coming into the game."

After the dismissals of Arnberger and Graeme Rummans (32) the brittle Victorian middle-order collapsed to Katich, who claimed 5-16 in one six-over spell and 6-74 overall in 28 tight overs of left-arm wrist spin.

It followed a haul of 5-45 in the Blues' previous match against Western Australia, before which Katich had not claimed a single first-class wicket all season.

"I thought he bowled really well, he had a few different variations and the wind was quite helpful to him," said Mott.

"It was easier once you were in for a while ... but for the batters coming in he was a bit harder to read and they crowded the bat."

It was a day for the imports with former Queenslander Mott and ex-New South Welshmen Arnberger and Rummans scoring the bulk of the runs for Victoria.

Katich, who moved east from WA in the off-season, was the shining light for the Blues in the absence of suspended legspinner Stuart MacGill.

Victoria needs 20 more runs tomorrow to avoid the follow-on and 170 for first innings points, which would move it six points clear of NSW in second place on the Pura Cup table.