Victoria have lost five wickets in the opening session on day three to hand control of their Sheffield Shield match to NSW.
Three wickets fell in a dramatic two-over period not long before lunch on Saturday, leaving the Vics reeling at 6-151 at the break.
Campbell Kellaway (13 not out) and Fergus O'Neill (8no) will resume after lunch looking to build on a lead of 100.
A fired-up Chris Temain (2-33) removed Matt Short (one) and Will Sutherland (duck) in a double-wicket maiden, cashing in on the damage done by Chris Green (1-9) in the previous over.
Green trapped Nic Maddinson lbw after the left-hander smashed a quickfire 40 off 39 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes.
Earlier, Victorian captain Peter Handscomb (nine) and opener Ashley Chandrasinghe (26) fell to Mickey Edwards (1-31) and Sean Abbott (1-41) respectively.
Victoria had opened day three at 1-78 and the wickets tumbled despite good batting conditions under bright sunshine at Junction Oval.
Travis Dean (46) is Victoria's top-scorer in their second innings after a welcome return to form.
But the opener was out lbw to Moises Henriques (1-11) before stumps on day two.
Victoria had Sam Harper and Jon Holland substituted out of the match on day two after they both tested positive for COVID-19.
Henriques (97) steered NSW to a first-innings lead of 51 but fell just short of a century when he was trapped lbw by Todd Murphy.
Both sides are still searching for their first win of the Shield season.