McGain wobbles Tasmania in Melbourne

Tasmania 8 for 200 (Birt 37, McGain 4-63) v Victoria
Scorecard

Bryce McGain starred with the ball with four wickets as Victoria squeezed Tasmania to 8 for 200 on the first day at the MCG. But the Bushrangers couldn't clean up the tail before stumps as Jason Krejza moved on to a dogged 30.

Tasmania chose to bat on a sunny day with little in the pitch to trouble them. The openers moved them to 39 before McGain was brought on in the 16th over and struck with his second ball, as Michael Di Venuto edged to first slip on 22. Gerard Denton was next, removing the other opener Michael Dighton (25), who cut a wide one hard to point and then Shane Harwood was in on the act, getting George Bailey for 6.

Then it was McGain's turn again with two breakthroughs. Travis Birt chipped a half-volley for a sharp return catch on 37, before Daniel Marsh, who also made a start with 25, crashed an inside edge on to his stumps. Luke Butterworth (11) and Sean Clingeleffer (6) were also caught up in the slide, Clingeleffer becoming McGain's fourth victim.

Krejza and Brett Geeves were building when Denton got a second, trapping Geeves, who had been dropped on 9 off Allan Wise, for 19 to leave Tasmania 8 for 183. It was left to Krejza to push them to the 200-mark and he was joined in his efforts by Adam Griffith, who was unbeaten on 10 by the close.