New South Wales will hope the weekend forecast of rain, hail and thunder allows at least an over of cricket at Punt Rd in its Pura Cup cricket match against Victoria.

The Blues were 5-257 at stumps tonight, three runs short of first-innings points after the Bushrangers were all out for 259 before lunch.

Michael Bevan, with a top score of 116, and Brad Haddin (15) were the not-out batsmen, while 20-year-old Michael Clarke again showed his potential at Victoria's expense with a well-crafted 111.

Blues captain Shane Lee, out in controversial circumstances late in the day, said he was happier to be five down tonight and two runs behind than have lost seven or eight wickets and have passed Victoria's total.

"It would have been nice - it's forecast to rain for the next couple of days, but saying that it was forecast for showers today...we should be able to get on, in the next couple of days, it would be disappointing if we didn't," Lee said.

"We're happy with the way it ended up."

Lee was the last out in a mini-collapse that sent NSW from 2-187 to 5-206 and gave Victoria renewed hope of scoring its first points of the season in either four-day or one-day games.

He stood his ground and Bevan questioned umpire Bob Parry at the non-striker's end when an edge from Lee off the bowling of Colin Miller popped up to substitute fielder Cameron White at silly mid-on.

Lee and Bevan thought the ball hit the ground as White lunged forward, but the batsman was sent on his way after Parry consulted with Richard Patterson.

"I thought the ball had touched the ground at some stage - I waited around for the umpire's decision," Lee said.

"They said they thought it carried, you leave the field, it's the way it goes." Bevan then combined with Haddin for a 51-run stand that again put the Blues in control.

Victoria resumed at 6-221 and only lasted another 13 overs, Ian Harvey top scoring with 74 and Nathan Bracken (4-76) and Stuart MacGill (4-71) the only bowlers used today.

The Bushrangers' slow scoring and cautious attitude at the crease appeared vindicated when Test batsman Michael Slater was out for a duck on the fourth ball of the innings and fellow opener Greg Mail went two overs later for one, leaving NSW 2-1.

It was not the best time for a 20-year-old to come to the crease, but Clarke combined with Bevan for a 186-run stand.

Clarke offered only one chance, dropped by Brad Hodge at third slip off Michael Lewis.

Lee said the former national under-19 captain, who suffered from a back injury a few weeks ago, was not scared to play his shots regardless of the circumstances.

"Michael hasn't had a chance this (season), all our Test boys have been playing, (but) to come out and get a hundred and steady the ship showed some real maturity," Lee said.

It was Clarke's highest first-class score, beating the 106 he made last season - also against Victoria.

Clarke's dismissal sparked the brief NSW scare, but Bevan also showed poise in recovering the innings.

He took great delight in saluting a small, but vocal, anti-Bevan section of the crowd with his bat once he reached his ton.

Victorian captain Matthew Elliott had to leave the ground after tea because of illness.

© 2001 AAP