Paine guides Tigers to first-innings lead

Victoria 9 for 283 dec and 1 for 4 trail Tasmania 9 for 308 dec (Paine 63*, Harwood 4-75) by 21 runs
Scorecard

Tim Paine fought off a serious virus to earn Tasmania first-innings points despite a four-wicket haul from Shane Harwood at Hobart. Paine was unable to open the innings having been rushed to hospital but returned to bat at No. 7 and his unbeaten 63 helped the Tigers overhaul Victoria's 283.

Tasmania declared at 9 for 309, giving Victoria four overs to face before stumps. The Bushrangers' reply began badly when Lloyd Mash fell to the last ball of the day, playing on to Brett Geeves for 2. At the close the visitors were 1 for 4, with a deficit of 21 runs.

Harwood toiled away and broke through just often enough that no Tasmania pair could build a decisive partnership until Paine and Luke Butterworth came together. They added 74 for the eighth wicket, a stand that took them within 16 runs of a first-innings lead.

Paine confirmed the selectors' belief that he would regain his batting form without the burden of wicketkeeping, scoring 11 boundaries in his near three-hour innings. Butterworth's 40 was important, as was the 39 from Sean Clingeleffer, the reinstated wicketkeeper.

Harwood ended Michael Dighton's bright start when he was lbw for 28 and Michael Di Venuto followed ten runs later. Harwood's 4 for 75 gave Victoria hope after their declaration late on the first day but he had too little support and the visitors will need to rely on setting Tasmania a target and bowling them out to take any points from the match.