Tasmanian captain George Bailey has notched a quickfire half-century as the Tigers try to breathe some life into the rain-disrupted Sheffield Shield match against NSW at Bellerive.

Bailey has 71 off just 78 balls, with Tasmania now 2-211 at lunch on day three chasing NSW’s first innings of 7(dec)-341.

The Tigers look prepared to surrender first innings points with a declaration in a bid to keep outright points alive.

Both sides are desperate for points to chase top sides Queensland and Western Australia and the Blues showed the way with their attacking spirit by declaring on Monday evening.

The Tigers lost Test opener Ed Cowan (47) and No.3 Alex Doolan (two), while Steven Cazzulino, who was dropped by Ben Rohrer on 74, has taken his score to 76.

Cowan was caught behind attempting to pull Scott Coyte after the bowler had dropped a simple chance from a similar shot earlier in the over.

Doolan was caught superbly by Steven Smith at second slip, the former Test allrounder making amends for two dropped catches on Monday by diving low to his left to give Josh Lalor a wicket.

Things really got moving, though, when Bailey arrived at the crease, the Australian Twenty20 skipper reaching his 50 off just 64 balls and belting 13 fours and a six.

Bailey was particularly strong through the off side, and smacked the first three balls of Coyte’s 18th over to the boundary.

Less than two hours’ play was possible on day two because of rain, with day three extended by an hour to make up time.