McDermott and Wade in the runs but Victoria strike back late

Ben McDermott narrowly missed a third first-class century as Tasmania's solid platform was dented in their crucial penultimate-round Sheffield Shield match against unbeaten Victoria.

Tasmania, who won the toss and elected to bat, reached 5 for 250 at stumps on day one at Melbourne's Junction Oval.

McDermott was dismissed in the final over of the day, caught in the slips off the bowling of Will Sutherland for 94. He hit nine boundaries and two sixes in a largely faultless 209-ball knock.

His 129-run stand for the third wicket with Matthew Wade was the main plank in Tasmania's innings, with the pair batting throughout the afternoon session. Former Test batter Wade looked at ease during his 61 from 129 balls, before feathering a catch to the wicketkeeper off the bowling of rookie spinner Todd Murphy.

Playing in just his second Shield match, the 21-year-old Murphy made a double breakthrough earlier in the day after the Victorian quicks failed to make inroads. He delivered successive wicket-maidens as openers Caleb Jewell and Tim Ward were dispatched, the latter badly misjudging a delivery and getting bowled as he shouldered arms.

Jordan Silk hit six boundaries in his 31 before becoming another victim of spin as Jon Holland got into the action. It was a costly final half-hour for Tasmania who lost 2 for 4 in the closing stages.

It was a different-looking Victoria side from the one who drew against Queensland last month with James Seymour, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Henry Thornton all coming into the line-up.

Opener Marcus Harris and fast bowler Scott Boland are in Pakistan with the Australian Test squad, while Matt Short has a side strain. Concussion victim Will Pucovski is continuing his return to cricket with a Victorian Second XI match this week.

Unbeaten Victoria currently sit second on a congested Shield ladder with two wins and three draws, with Tasmania also boasting two wins.