Victoria sustain bowling injuries as Tasmania stay top with draw

Tim Ward and captain Jordan Silk made 50s before Tasmania closed out a tame draw with Victoria to stay top of the Sheffield Shield ladder.

As Melbourne's stormy late-spring weather threatened, an early tea was called on Wednesday and the match called off, with no chance of a result at Melbourne's Junction Oval.

Tasmania lost an early wicket on the final day before Ward and Silk saw Tasmania through to stumps in their third-wicket stand of 163.

A draw was always the most likely result, but there was excitement early on day four when Charlie Wakim followed up his first-innings top score of 148 by hitting a sharp catch to Will Sutherland for 9 off Todd Murphy.

That left the visitors at 20 for 2. But Ward and Silk then settled in and it soon became clear there would be no last-day fireworks as Victoria laboured in vain for another breakthrough.

Ward's 193-ball knock included six fours and a six to follow his first-innings 67, while Silk hit 12 fours in his 181-ball stay at the crease.

Victoria's Test hopeful Marcus Harris was named player of the match for his 164.

Victorian Travis Dean was subbed out of the game because of concussion, but they are hopeful he will return for their next Shield game on Thursday week against Queensland at the MCG.

Fergus O'Neill and Mitchell Perry rolled ankles while bowling in the Tasmanian second innings and Perry will not travel to Launceston for Saturday's one dayer. But he and O'Neill are expected to be available for next week's Shield game.