Tasmanian captain George Bailey led the way with a quickfire century as the Tigers grabbed first innings points over NSW then declared on day three of the Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive.

Bailey cracked 117 off 140 balls with 20 fours and a six as Tasmania reached 7-345 and closed their innings immediately on passing the Blues’ 7(dec)-341.

The Australian Twenty20 captain had signalled his intention of breathing some life into the rain-marred match by passing 50 off just 64 balls after openers Ed Cowan (47) and Steven Cazzulino (87) had resumed at 0-81 on Wednesday morning.

Mark Cosgrove (44) and Luke Butterworth (22) kept up the free-scoring after Bailey had been caught by Phil Hughes cutting left-armer Josh Lalor (3-73).

At tea, NSW were 0-13 in their second dig with Hughes unbeaten on 13 and Usman Khawaja on one.

Both sides are desperate for points to chase top sides Queensland and Western Australia and the Blues had shown the way with their attacking declaration on Monday evening.

After an opening stand of 100, Cowan was caught behind attempting to pull Scott Coyte (2-64) before Alex Doolan fell 10 runs later for two to a superb slips catch from Steven Smith.

Cazzulino, who had received two lives including a regulation drop from Ben Rohrer on Wednesday, shared a 138-run partnership with Bailey before falling lbw to Coyte after grafting his 87 from 234 balls.

Faulkner was caught slashing to Hughes at point off Lalor, while Cosgrove holed out to mid-off Stephen O’Keefe to become Sean Abbott’s (1-61) only victim at 6-341.

Butterworth was caught behind off the bowling of O’Keefe before keeper Brady Jones (4no) smacked a boundary through midwicket to pass NSW’s score and the Tigers walked off.

The rain has stayed away on Wednesday and 36 overs were scheduled to be bowled in the final session.