NSW’s bowlers have given their side a fighting chance of an outright Sheffield Shield win by rolling Tasmania for a second innings 164 at Bellerive.

The Blues need 255 with more than a day’s play left to claim a victory that looked unlikely when they finished the first innings 90 in arrears.

But inspired spells from Sean Abbott (4-36) and a fired-up Doug Bollinger (2-39) caused a Tigers collapse, the Shield champs losing 7-29 after they had been a comfortable 3-123.

Only opener Mark Cosgrove (81) passed 20 for the home side in a fluent knock with 12 boundaries.

Bollinger began the damage by removing opener Jordan Silk (12) caught behind before spinner Steve O’Keefe (2-31) got rid of Test aspirants Ed Cowan (12) and Alex Doolan (17).

Tasmania went to tea at 3-123 and eyeing a big target fro the Blues to chase on a wearing pitch, but Abbott removed ben Dunk (9) soon after at 4-135.

Bollinger produced a menacing spell and bowled dangerman Tim Paine (1) with a superb inswinging yorker at 5-140.

Cosgrove nibbled at an Abbott ball outside off and was caught behind on the same score before Abbott and Gurinder Sandhu (2-24) mopped up the tail.

Earlier, Xavier Doherty took 3-37 as NSW were dismissed for 264 in reply to the Tigers’ first innings total of 354.

Trent Copeland top-scored for the Blues with 58.

NSW came into the match as the competition’s outright leaders with Tasmania fifth.