Former Test batsman Rob Quiney outshone current Australian opener Chris Rogers as Victoria battled to 3-119 by stumps on a rain-marred first day of the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.
Quiney fought his way to an unbeaten 57 with six fours, having had a life on 24, after losing opening partner Rogers for just three.
Tigers quicks James Faulkner (1-17) and Adam Maher (1-36), and part-timer Mark Cosgrove (1-1), had a wicket apiece for the home side.
Rogers, George Bailey and Faulkner are all hoping to use the match to tune up for the Ashes series beginning next week.
Rogers had already shown some superb early season form, cracking 117 and 88 in the Vics’ last Shield outing, against NSW.
Two sessions were lost to persistent rain before Tigers captain Bailey sent the visitors in on a sticky Bellerive strip.
The move looked to have paid off when 36-year-old Rogers was caught in the gully off Maher with the score at 1-4.
But Quiney and Peter Handscomb (19) dug in as the ball zipped around, a straightforward chance to Alex Doolan at first slip going down at 1-48.
Handscomb was clean-bowled by Faulkner when the score was 2-58, a delivery that would have impressed national chairman of selectors John Inverarity who watched the day’s play.
Former Bushrangers skipper Cameron White (33) fell to Cosgrove’s first delivery, an outswinger edged to ‘keeper Tim Paine after he’d put on 55 with Quiney.
Nightwatchman Scott Boland (0no) will resume with Quiney on Thursday morning, when rain is forecast to ease for Hobart.