McKay gives Victoria chance of victory

Tasmania 218 and 5 for 145 (Marsh 69*, McKay 3-46) trail Victoria 484 (Jewell 92, Quiney 88, Wright 84, Hussey 76, Geeves 4-103, Butterworth 3-63) by 121 runs
Scorecard

Clint McKay bowled Victoria to within sight of victory after their batsmen posted a huge total of 484 at the MCG. Tasmania were scrambling to stay in the match at stumps on the third day and their captain Daniel Marsh was the main obstacle in Victoria's path, unbeaten on 69 with Luke Butterworth on 25.

The pair had combined for a 60-run partnership that steadied the Tigers after they stumbled to 5 for 85. Tasmania ended the day at 5 for 145, trailing by 121, but Marsh and Butterworth at least gave them hope of survival on a final day that was likely to feature a few showers.

Victoria had a first-innings lead of 266 and it looked like the game could be over in three days when Tasmania crashed to 3 for 18 with McKay having claimed all the wickets. He struck with the second ball of the innings when Rhett Lockyear was caught in the slips for 2 and followed with Travis Birt lbw and Michael Dighton caught behind.

Shane Harwood and Jon Holland chipped in with a breakthrough each as the day threatened to become a disastrous one for Tasmania, who had allowed Victoria's lower order to add 146 before lunch. The in-form Rob Quiney made his maiden first-class century earlier this season and he looked set to add a second until he top-edged an attempted hook on 88.

The Tigers also had big trouble trying to remove their team-mate from last summer, Damien Wright, who was fresh from a club cricket century and finished with 84. Wright was the last man out, handing Brett Geeves his fourth wicket, but there were precious few reasons for Tasmania to celebrate for the rest of the day.