Career best figures of 6-41 for spinner Jon Holland have helped Victoria to a dominant position in their match against Tasmania and within touching distance of a berth in next week’s Sheffield Shield final.

The left-armer ripped through the Tasmanian batting in Alice Springs with the Tigers dismissed for just 145, to concede a massive first innings deficit of 304.

Victoria declined to enforce the follow-on, and at stumps they had raced to 1-47 establishing a lead of 351.

The Tasmanians were looked strong at 1-91 only to suffer an astonishing capitulation losing nine wickets for 54 runs after tea, including eight wickets for the addition of just 17 runs at one stage.

Only some lusty blows from No.11 Jackson Bird (26no) temporarily halted the Tasmanian slide as he and Clive Rose added 37 for the final wicket.

Dom Michael top-scored for Tasmania with 52, with fellow opener Ben Dunk (22) the only other top-order batsman to get a start.

Victorian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmad was looming as the danger for Tasmania after claiming seven wickets in Alice Springs a fortnight ago, but instead it was Holland who proved the unlikely star, securing his first five-wicket haul in his 35th first class match.

Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade led the way scoring 101 as Victoria’s tail wagged.

Resuming at 5-334, Victoria lost two quick wickets but the final two partnerships added 93 runs, with Holland (33) and No.11 Ahmed (21 not out) making handy contributions.

Paceman Andrew Fekete was the best of the Tasmanian bowlers claiming 5-66 to edge past Ahmed as the Shield’s leading wicket-taker for the season.

A win for Victoria will guarantee their spot in the season decider and potentially hosting rights should they overhaul leaders Western Australia, who are just 0.06 points ahead, with third-placed NSW also still in contention.