Victoria need 337 in 73 overs at Bellerive to host the Sheffield Shield final after a lunch-time declaration from Tasmania.

The Tigers closed their second innings at 7(dec)-325 after a Sunday morning batting blitz from youngster Jordan Silk (127) and champion Ricky Ponting (86).

The Bushrangers, who entered the final round of matches in top spot, will need to score at 4.6 runs an over on a pitch occasionally keeping low and against a Tigers attack hell bent on delivering Ponting a first title with his state in what could be his last domestic season.

Victoria will host the final if they win, miss it if they lose and sneak into the decider with a draw if Western Australia and Queensland also play out a stalemate in Perth, which seems unlikely.

Tasmania will make the final if they win and will host it if the Bulls upset WA.

The weather is holding in Hobart with a thrilling afternoon’s cricket set up but the make-up of the final won’t be known until the match in Perth, with its three-hour time delay, is completed.

The Tigers looked capable of making it mission impossible for the Bushrangers as Silk and Ponting put on 142 at close to five runs an over.

But the chase for quick runs meant they lost 5-31.

Silk, 20, notched his first Shield century in just his second match, hitting the accelerator with Ponting after the the Tigers had resumed at 1-137.

Ponting’s vintage knock came from just 105 balls before he was bowled by a delivery that kept low from Jayde Herrick (3-97).

The former Test skipper tops the Shield run-scorers’ list this season with 875 at 87.5.

But his farewell from the ground, which included applause from teammates, looked a lot like a final appearance as he mulls over whether he will play on for Tasmania next season.

Victorian spinner Fawad Ahmed continued to impress with 4-122 from 30.2 overs.