Victoria have failed to cash in on a green looking Bellerive wicket after winning the toss and bowling first in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.

At lunch on day one, the Tigers are 0-84 with Mark Cosgrove unbeaten on 51 and youngster Jordan Silk 28.

The largely untroubled opening pair got off to a flyer and reached their 50 partnership in just the 13th over.

They were more watchful in the second hour with some tight bowling from Marcus Stoinis (0-12 from five overs) and Fawad Ahmed (0-6 from five).

Cosgrove reached his half-century from 82 balls with seven fours to back up the 63 he made in the Tigers’ important win over Queensland at the Gabba last week.

The match could be former Test skipper Ricky Ponting’s last Shield appearance if the Tigers fail to sneak their way into next week’s final, although the 38-year-old is yet to announce whether he will play on next domestic season.

Tasmania almost certainly need an outright win to make the decider, while Victoria will all but ensure their place with first innings points.