Tea has been taken on a rain disrupted day two of the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and NSW at Bellerive.

Less than 18 overs have been possible with persistent showers hitting Hobart, the latest delay forcing the players off the ground for more than two hours.

Play was scheduled to resume at 5.30pm (AEDT) with 41.5 overs due to be bowled but the covers are back on the ground.

Tasmania are 0-68 in reply to NSW’s 7(dec)-341 with openers Ed Cowan and Steven Cazzulino both unbeaten on 31.

The pair have only been able to add 44 runs after the Tigers had closed at 0-24 on Monday evening.

The Blues bowlers have kept it tight, with former Test paceman Trent Copeland leading the way with 0-19 from 13.5 overs.

Injured former NSW skipper Simon Katich did not take his place in the field on Tuesday after suffering severe bruising when he was struck on day one.