Victoria edge ahead as wickets tumble

Victoria 162 (Harvey 79, Griffith 7-54) lead Tasmania 101 by 61 runs
Scorecard

Adam Griffith appeals on his way to 7 for 54 © Getty Images

Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of Tasmania's Pura Cup clash against Victoria at Hobart, with Victoira fighting back to bowl Tasmania out for 101 after themselves being skittled for 162.

A career-best 7 for 54 from Adam Griffith gave Tasmania a great start as Victoria were bowled out inside two sessions. Griffith, who began with the scalp of Graeme Rummans and picked up Jonathon Moss, Brad Hodge, Cameron White and David Hussey to have 5 for 27 by lunch. After the break he added the wicketkeeper Peter Roach and Mathew Inness, who shared vital partnerships with Ian Harvey. Harvey, who came in with Victoria on 5 for 24, held the innings together with a gutsy 79.

Sparked by Michael Lewis and Harvey, who each took three wickets, Victoria then battled back to dismiss Tasmania in the last over of the day for a miserable 101. Harvey dismissed Dan Marsh and Sean Clingeleffer before taking the crucial wicket of Michael Bevan for 19. In the last 14 overs, Tasmania lost eight wickets for 41.

Marsh, Tasmania's captain, said that the game was still in the melting pot. "There's still plenty left in the wicket for our bowlers, so we've just got to bowl well and then get whatever they set us. It should still swing and seam and when you look at it, only one bloke [Harvey] played very well and pretty much everyone else struggled."