Dean ton keeps Vics in Shield after Tigers grab early wickets

A second century of the season by Victoria's third-choice opener Travis Dean has given his side hope of salvaging a much-needed result against Tasmania in their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash at the Junction Oval.

The Tigers appeared to hold the upper hand midway through the final session of day two as the hosts slipped to 4-110 with both Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson falling cheaply.

But Victoria went to stumps 4-210, still 145 runs in arrears of Tasmania's first innings of 355, with an unbroken 100-run fifth wicket stand between Dean (103no) and wicketkeeper Sam Harper (42no) leading a final hour fightback to keep the hosts in the contest – and their push for the Sheffield Shield final alive.

The 30-year-old opener was fortunate to reach the milestone, dropped by Tigers keeper Jake Doran on 97 in the penultimate over of the day with the ball racing away to the third-man boundary to bring up his eighth first-class century.

With Marcus Harris away on national duties and Will Pucovski returning from concussion through the Toyota Second XI competition, Dean patiently defied former Test quicks in Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird as wickets fell regularly at the other end during the middle session.

Following single-figure scores in his previous three innings after being recalled to the XI on day four against South Australia last month as a concussion substitute for Pucovski, Dean cemented his spot at the top of the order with the young prodigy's return imminent.

It follows his 144 not out in November when he carried his bat against NSW in his first Shield innings of the season after again being recalled with Harris in Queensland for the pre-Ashes camp.

"There's never been a question of whether he can perform or not, it's just that we've had international openers at the top so it's been pretty hard to get him in," Victoria captain Handscomb said after stumps.

"He's in a good spot in his professional career, he seems like he's in a really good headspace, when he gets that opportunity he seems to be taking it at the moment so it's great to see and I really hope he can keep doing it.

"If we can win (this match), it almost seals our spot barring a couple of horror results in the final (game) so this is a great opportunity for us to try and do that – it would be silly of us if we didn't at least try and get a result first."

Earlier, Tasmania's last four wickets added a crucial 104 runs during the morning session as the visitors were bowled out for 355 about 30 minutes before lunch.

With the concurrent Shield clash between NSW and Western Australia appearing destined for a draw after rained washed out day two without a ball being bowled, both Victoria and Tasmania can take top spot by gaining maximum points in this match.

The Vics started day two how they finished the previous evening as off-spinner Todd Murphy struck on the third ball of the morning when Tom Rogers edged to skipper Handscomb at slip, handing him his best first-class figures of 4-98.

Jake Doran and Tom Andrews put on a seventh-wicket partnership of 59 in quick time before both left-handers were dismissed in the space of five balls either side of drinks.

Doran became James Pattinson's first and only scalp of the innings – which saw eight wickets taken by spin – when he chopped on for 23, and Jon Holland claimed his second from the first ball of the next over as Andrews (39) miscued a lofted straight drive to mid-on, leaving Tasmania 8-310.

But Jackson Bird (26 off 18 deliveries) – who hit Pattinson for two sixes in the 115th over, including one that was fielded by Victorian legend Brad Hodge on the hill – and Ben Manenti (19no off 22) added another 45 in just six overs as Holland (4-82) bagged the last three wickets to fall.

Dean and opening partner James Seymour (10) survived a tricky period before lunch but it counted for little when the left-hander became the second batter this match to shoulder arms and lose his wicket, adjudged leg before to Bird (1-36) in the first over after the break.

Handscomb (22) then drove loosely and was caught at slip off Siddle (1-49), and he was quickly followed by Maddinson (1) who suffered a rare miss with the bat this Shield season as he spooned a simple chance back to debutant Manenti to become the off-spinner's maiden first class wicket.

Young sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk made an elegant start with four boundaries in his 54-ball stay but again fell after getting himself set, trapped in front by Rogers (1-50) for 25.

The 19-year-old – who has three Second XI centuries this season – has now been out six times this summer between 20 and his highest score of 45 as he struggles to find the same consistency in Australia's top-flight domestic competitions.

With spin tipped to play an increasing role over the final two days on a pitch that was also used for the previous Shield match against Queensland, Manenti said it was already starting to show signs of turning a bit more.

"It's still pretty even at the moment, I think it'll be won probably in the last session on day four so hopefully we can get a couple (of wickets) early tomorrow and then make the decision on what we do next to hopefully try and set up a game," he said after day two.

"A couple of hot days and hopefully it'll deteriorate a bit more and Tommy (Andrews) and I can come into the game and hopefully try and win us the game late on day four."