Tigers build lead over Vics in Shield

Tasmania and Victoria are prepared for their Sheffield Shield final chances to be decided on the last day of the regular season, with the Tigers looking to craft a match-winning lead.

The Tigers were 1-137 at stumps on a rain-interrupted day three, a lead of 148, as the complex equation to work out who will play in the decider became marginally simpler after NSW’s victory over South Australia.

Five sides can still host the final and only outright victory can guarantee the Bushrangers and Tigers a spot.

Victoria might still sneak in with a draw, but only if Western Australia and Queensland also play out a stalemate.

Adding to the tension is the X-factor of rain in Hobart, with 48 overs lost on Saturday and showers forecast for day four.

Tasmania will attempt to set the Bushrangers a target and allow a bowling attack with no spinner enough time to take 10 wickets on the last day.

The home side bowled Victoria out for a first innings 358, David Hussey top-scoring with 112, to take a lead of 11 into the second dig.

But narrowly denying the visitors first-innings points had the effect of turning the contest into a fight to the death.

The Tigers began their second innings well with openers Mark Cosgrove (50) and Jordan Silk (61no) putting on 98 before Cosgrove was bowled by Fawad Ahmed (1-30).

Silk will resume with Alex Doolan, who is unbeaten on 23.

Hussey and tailender Jayde Herrick defied the new ball to put on 66 and help the Vics from 7-264 overnight to within sight of first-innings points.

The 35-year-old cracked two sixes and 12 fours before he was last man out after making his first Shield ton of the season.

Tigers medium pacer Evan Gulbis finished with career-best figures of 5-99.

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