Victoria began their last desperate push for a spot in next week’s Sheffield Shield final with a strong performance on day one of their clash with NSW.

The Blues chose to bat first at the MCG on Thursday and were bowled out for 208 before the home side reached 1-22 at stumps with Rob Quiney seven not out and Jon Holland on two.

Victoria medium-pacer Andrew McDonald was at his miserly best with figures of 2-8 from 14 overs and drew praise from Steve Smith who top scored for the Blues with 86.

“There’s a bit in the wicket. There’s a lot of balls going past the bat,” McDonald said.

“We’re going to have to bat really well to get past them.”

Fourth-placed Victoria remain hopeful of a berth in the March 16-20 final, while NSW are fifth and out of contention.

“The first thing we need to do is to get six points to be any chance. I suppose you’re always going to have a little eye on what’s going on with other results,” McDonald said.

NSW captain Stephen O’Keefe had won the toss in overcast conditions and chose to bat on a lively pitch.

Jayde Herrick led the bowling for Victoria with 3-50.

Left-arm paceman Will Sheridan (2-53) dismissed NSW opener Phil Hughes lbw for 22 and also removed Nic Maddinson caught behind for 19.

Victoria had dropped wicketkeeper Ryan Carters after his fumble on Test quick Peter Siddle’s hat-trick ball during last week’s Shield match in Perth.

The Bushrangers handed the gloves to occasional ‘keeper Peter Handscomb. But the 20-year-old grassed a regulation chance off Herrick’s bowling with Hughes on 10, although McDonald later claimed the ball had come off the pad only.

Handscomb made no mistake when Maddinson fended at a wide ball from Sheridan and claimed a second catch to dismiss Usman Khawaja for 20.

Smith and Ben Rohrer (15) added 59 before McDonald claimed the wickets of Rohrer and Peter Nevill (0) in successive deliveries to have the Blues at 5-137.

Smith was prepared to play his shots in challenging conditions but top-edged an attempted hook from Herrick’s bowling to mid-off. Smith hit 15 fours off 126 deliveries.

Sub fielder Carters – away from his customary role behind the stumps – took a diving catch at square leg and claimed a run out. O’Keefe was unbeaten on 26.

After two bad-light interruptions, Chris Rogers (nine) was caught at third slip as NSW debutant Chris Tremain took his first wicket.

“McDonald, his economy rate was phenomenal,” Smith said.

“This is the sort of wicket where Trent Copeland is going to be pretty tough work (for batsmen to face).”