Redbacks' finals hopes ended by eight wicket loss

HOBART, March 2 AAP - Last-placed Tasmania had little trouble ending South Australia's slim final hopes in the Pura Cup with an eight wicket victory at Bellerive Oval today.

Needing an outright win to stay in the chase for the title, the Redbacks had no answer to Tigers paceman Gerard Denton, who finished with match figures of 8-101 off 32 overs.

"That's it for us now unfortunately," said Redbacks skipper Greg Blewett.

"We had everything to play for this game, so to come away with a loss is disappointing. We have only got ourselves to blame."

The final day was almost a formality as South Australia resumed at 8-185, having been forced to follow on after a making just 122 in reply to the home team's 285.

Tasmania claimed the remaining two SA wickets to end the innings on 227, setting a target of 65.

The Tigers achieved that goal before lunch for the loss of two wickets in 20.2 overs with Scott Mason unbeaten on 30 and Michael Dighton on 12.

Tasmanian allrounder Dan Marsh was man-of-the-match for his 111 runs off 177 balls with 16 fours in the first innings.

It was the 29-year-old's fifth domestic first-class century.

But he was rivalled by Denton, who took a career-best 5-40 off 15 overs to make a mess of SA's first innings.

The visitors improved in the second innings - thanks to Mark Higgs' 96 not out - but were again battered by Denton, who has only recently returned to the side after an extended lay off through injury.

Despite picking up six points, the Tigers remain on the bottom of the ladder.

Their final match of the season is also against the Redbacks - this time in Adelaide, from March 6-9.

"It's just another cricket match we can win hopefully," Tigers skipper Jamie Cox said.

After their drubbing in Hobart, the Redbacks will no doubt be keen to redeem themselves.

"We are sitting on 22 points, so we'd certainly like to finish with another outright on third or fourth (on the ladder)," Blewett said.