Vics scrap but Tigers close in on victory

02 Nov 2019 AAP

Match Report

02 Nov 2019 AAP

Tasmania in box seat heading into final day needing 108 more to win despite Victoria's tail digging in before claiming two fourth-innings scalps

Tasmania will turn again to Matthew Wade with the bat as they push for their first Marsh Sheffield Shield win of the season against Victoria in Hobart.

Rain washed out half of Saturday's third day at Blundstone Arena, where the Tigers finished 2-31 at stumps, chasing 139 runs to win.

Wade, after top-scoring for the Tigers with 69 in the first innings, is yet to face a ball, while youngster Charlie Wakim is unbeaten on eight.

Wade tunes up for Test summer with Shield half-century

"They bowled exceptionally well. Lights on at Bellerive, overcast, is always a tough situation," Wade said.

Victoria's quicks breathed some life into their chances, striking two blows with the new cherry before the drizzle set in during the afternoon.

"The ball was moving around quite a lot. If you can see it move on a screen in the rooms - it's doing twice as much when you're out there," Wade said.

"That was challenging. We could have easily been three for not many."

Day two: Harris, Handscomb post fifties

Peter Siddle had opener Beau Webster caught in the gully for a first-ball duck after the veteran bowler earlier provided some stubborn lower-order resistance with the bat.

Victoria's tail soaked up balls and time in the morning session before they were bowled out for 237.

Siddle (21 off 63 balls) was the last man out when he edged Riley Meredith behind.

Former Test quick Jackson Bird finished with 4-65 for a match haul of seven wickets, taking his tally to 15 this season from two Shield fixtures.

Filling in behind the stumps for rested Test captain Tim Paine, Jake Doran took 10 catches for the game.

In a low-scoring affair in which most batsmen had struggled, Test opener Marcus Harris on Friday hit a solid 60.

Harris boosts Test case with vital half-century

Tasmania XI: Matthew Wade (c), Alex Doolan, Beau Webster, Charlie Wakim, George Bailey, Caleb Jewell, Jake Doran (wk), Alex Pyecroft, Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell, Riley Meredith.

Victoria XI: Travis Dean, Marcus Harris, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb (c), Nic Maddinson, Matt Short, Sam Harper (wk), Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle, Scott Bolan, Jon Holland.

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