Bushrangers batsmen struggling against Tigers

After a one days play at the Bellerive Oval honours are even after Tasmania ended the day at seven without loss in reply to Victoria who closed at 9 for 279.

On a chocolate-brown pitch Tasmania had the luck with the coin, sending Victoria into bat and they immediately struck with Jason Arnberger going in the first over as edged behind to Damien Wright without scoring.

Matthew Elliott was bowled four overs later for 12 to give Damien Wright his second wicket to have the visitors reeling at 2/16 inside the first half hour of play.

Mark Ridgway in his last game for Tasmania struck in his fourth over having Brad Hodge playing on for 7 and the visitors had their problems being 3/27.

Left handed pair Matthew Mott and Laurie Harper steadied the ship for three quarters on a hour before Harper pushed a ball to cover, set off for a single, was sent back by Mott, slipped on his backside trying to get back and became the fourth wicket to fall with his score on 9. This put the Vics in strife at 4/55 just before the luncheon adjournment.

Victoria stabilised their innings and suffered no further loss before the break and went to lunch at 4/81 with Matthew Mott 32 and Ian Harvey on 17

Early in the middle session, Harvey played aggressively and Mott batted steadily as both players passed fifty mark and just as the 100 partnership was raised Mott pushed at one from Young that left him and went for 61 at 5/158 ending a partnership of 103 for the fifth wicket.

Harvey appeared set for a century but off the last possible ball before the tea break nudged at a ball from Marsh, got an edge and was taken behind which completed an great knock that included 16 well struck boundaries.

Virtually straight out of the tea break, Berry appeared not to offer to Marsh and the Victorians looked in strife for the second time in the day as they fell to 7 for 192.

Skipper Reiffel started scratchily and lost Shaun Craig at 214 leg glancing to Wright to give the Tassie quick a well deserved third wicket.

David Saker, who has been absent for a considerable part of the season, joined his captain and the pair played aggressively adding 65 in 14 overs in an hour. Saker went to Marsh and immediately the big V declared leaving Tasmania three overs to try and stay out of trouble.

Of the Tasmanian bowlers, Damien Wright was best, with Dan Marsh proving a good foil with three cheap wickets from 16.1 overs.

Jamie Cox and Dene Hills had a couple concerns before they eventually saw things to the close, with Cox nearly running himself out after slipping, Inness could have run in and taken the stumps but chose to throw the ball and Hills edged the left arm quick just short of fourth slip later in the same over

Tomorrows interest with centre around the return of David Saker and whether his fellow bowlers can dismiss Tasmania cheaply, as they have very little but pride to play for.