Klinger comes to Victoria's rescue

Victoria 167 and 5 for 323 (Klinger 107, Hodge 70, Hussey 50) lead Tasmania 347 by 143 runs
Scorecard

Michael Klinger cracked 107 as Victoria replied strongly in their follow on after beginning the day on 0 for 7, 173 runs behind Tasmania. Klinger was ably supported by Brad Hodge and Victoria ended the third day on 323, 143 runs ahead with five wickets in hand.

Jason Arnberger completed his pair with a duck early on, but thereafter Tasmania's hopes of an innings victory were snuffed out by a succession of solid partnerships. Hodge made a resolute 70 of 146 balls in a 135-run stand with Klinger for the second wicket. Ben Hilfenhaus had his lbw appeal against Hodge upheld but the danger of an innings defeat passed as Nick Jewell and Klinger were involved in a 58-run third-wicket partnership that gave Victoria the lead. Just when they were set to press on Scott Kremerskothen had Jewell (32) stumped, and then took a brilliant return catch to account for Klinger, who made his maiden first-class century, leaving Victoria effectively 4 for 40.

Klinger's hundred came at the same venue where four years ago, Paul Reiffel, the then Victorian captain, declared and left Klinger stranded on 99. "I was pretty confident I'd get another chance," Klinger told AAP. "Same ground, same wicket. It probably would've just topped it off maybe if Pistol [Reiffel] was umpiring. I was a bit emotional at the time [of reaching his hundred], the fact that I was probably thinking about my mum at the time ... that was probably one thing that went through my head straight away knowing she'd be pretty proud."

David Hussey (50) and Cameron White (44 not out) picked up the pieces after Klinger's departure and put together 84 runs before Hilfenhaus claimed Hussey's wicket a few overs before stumps.