Tigers extend advantage after Victoria slip to 135

Tasmania 295 and 5 for 141 lead Victoria135 (Drew 4-33) by 301 runs
Scorecard

Shane Harwood removed Travis Birt and George Bailey to keep Victoria in the game © Getty Images Enlarge

Tasmania grabbed a first-innings lead against Victoria and threatened to create a major upset in the Pura Cup match at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Powered by a four-wicket haul from Brendan Drew, Tasmania, who are bottom of the points table, dismissed Victoria for 135 and gained a 160-run lead. However, they chose not to enforce the follow-on and were 5 for 141 by the end of the second day.

No Victorian batsmen passed 25 as Drew, who has taken seven wickets at 54.85 in his three first-class games, grabbed his four victims in 18 balls before lunch. But the Bushrangers fought back through a disciplined bowling performance - Shane Harwood picked up 2 for 23 - to reduce Tasmania to a shaky 5 for 97 before Dan Marsh and Sean Clingeleffer added 44 vital runs. Given the Bushrangers' recent record of successful chases, Tasmania will be looking to set a big target.