Victoria 307 (Harris 100, Chandrasinghe 67, Neser 4-71) and 2 for 21 lead Queensland 175 (Neser 43, Sutherland 4-35, O'Neill 3-36) by 153 runs

Newly-minted captain Will Sutherland led the way as Victoria lifted themselves into a strong position at the midway point of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the MCG.

Victoria ended the day at 2 for 21, a lead of 153 runs as the home side chase a win that will likely lift them into second at the Bulls' expense.

The story of the day was Queensland's top-order failure with the bat in the face of unrelenting and accurate quick bowling from the hosts.

Sutherland returned the best figures after ripping through the lower-order, having earlier clean bowled the dangerous Max Bryant for 38.

Mitch Perry also made two major key breakthroughs in the form of Bryce Street and top-scorer Michael Neser.

Queensland's rot commenced with rookie Fergus O'Neill, who claimed the first three scalps, recording the best figures of his fledgling career in the process.

O'Neill's early breakthroughs left Queensland floundering at 3 for 27, and things barely improved after lunch as the visitors slipped to 6 for 92.

It took a 65-run stand for the seventh wicket - the best of the innings - between Neser and Xavier Bartlett to give Queensland some hope.

But Sutherland's late burst of wickets ensured they conceded a 132-run deficit with Marcus Harris's 100 on day one shaping as pivotal.

Harris, though, may have mixed memories of this match after Neser produced a superb new-ball delivery to induce a leading edge into the gully as the former Test opener was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the second innings.

There was further cause for celebration for Queensland in the dying minutes with Ashley Chandrasinghe - scorer of a half-century a day earlier - bowled by Bartlett.

The day started promisingly for the Queenslanders who cut through Victoria's lower-order to bowl them out for 307 after resuming at 6 for 282.