Victoria hit back with four wickets in the middle session of Friday’s first day of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive.

The Bushrangers nabbed 4-73 after a century opening stand from Tigers’ openers Mark Cosgrove and Jordan Silk had made the visitors’ decision to bowl first look questionable.

At tea, the Tigers were 4-202, a free-scoring Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 38 from just 47 balls and Jonathan Wells on six.

Cosgrove made 81 and Silk 52, the pair putting on 120 to have the home side cruising.

Cosgrove hit 11 fours in his 133-ball knock to back up the 63 he made in the second innings of Tasmania’s important win over Queensland at the Gabba last week.

Silk made his first Shield 50 in his second match, the 20-year-old smacking nine fours before he was lbw to spinner Fawad Ahmed (1-42) a ball after he’d been dropped at slip.

Cosgrove fell at 2-151, lbw to Ryan Sidebottom (1-49) when a ball kept low.

The Tigers still looked comfortable but lost two wickets in the space of a run to leave their first dig in the balance.

Alex Doolan (17) played on attempting to pull Jayde Herrick (1-40) and skipper George Bailey (1) looked to be in disbelief when he was given out caught behind off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis (1-20).

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