A Ricky Ponting double century has allowed Tasmania to declare their first innings after lunch on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against NSW at Bellerive.
Ponting remained unbeaten on 200 exactly, with Jason Krejza 118 not out, the pair having put on 293 to rescue the Tigers from a precarious 6-132.
The home side made 6-425 before calling time on their innings at 1.45pm.
Ponting reached 200 when he pushed Blues quick Trent Copeland to the off-side for a single and celebrated by raising his bat and helmet to the sky and embracing Krejza.
It was Ponting’s third Shield double century.
A fresh Tigers’ attack will include returning Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus who broke down in the third Test against Sri Lanka with a side injury in December.
Josh Hazlewood finished the best of the Blues bowlers with 3-76 but the visitors went wicketless on day two after Tasmania had resumed at 6-310.
Ponting resumed on 138 and his chanceless knock included 27 fours and a six.
The 38-year-old and No.8 Krejza produced a Tasmanian record for the seventh wicket, bettering the 215 set by Michael Bevan and Damien Wright in 2004.
Krejza notched his first Shield and second first-class ton with 11 fours and a six to help Ponting grind the Blues attack down.
Ponting, who passed 150 with consecutive boundaries off Copeland, has now amassed 555 runs in his five Shield matches this season at 185.
Krejza made 101no for Australia A against Pakistan A in Townsville in 2009.
Tasmania had been in trouble at 6-132 when Ponting and Krejza came together after lunch on day one, but they now look firmly in control.
A win is vital for both sides on a congested Shield table, with fourth-placed Tasmania (16 points) just a point ahead of the Blues.