Bushrangers rally but outright win looks forlorn

Time seems as if it will be the enemy for both Tasmania and Victoria at the Bellrieve Oval after three days of this match as Victoria lead by 54 with eight wickets in hand which suggests that barring a batting collapse of sorts this match is destined to end in a draw.

The teams resumed hostilites on time and Shaun Young, after a solid innings yesterday went early in the days proceedings edging Inness to Berry ending a partnership of 98 for the sixth wicket. Plucky little Mark Atkinson continued on and was joined by the left handed Scott Kremerskothen. Atkinson brought up his fifty and after a useful partnership of 42 for the seventh wicket, the 'keeper fell to Reiffel ending his innings of 62. Reiffel picked up his fourth wicket for the innings and his 50th first class wicket of the season by trapping Damien Wright in front for a duck and after Downton lashed three fours, David Saker mopped up the innings to bowl Tassie out for 421.

The Victorian openers faced a deficit of 142 and played steadily, with Elliott playing shots to most parts of the ground and his partner Arnberger was steady. When the partnership reached 102, Arnberger fell to the medium pace of Kremerskothen for 45 but even at this stage one could sense that both sides were going through the motions.

Elliott brought up the century tucking Marsh behind square leg and then drove the same bowler in the air towards mid on to see Downton take a sensational catch low down on his right hand side. Elliott lasted three and a half hours and has a chance to continue on the good form next Friday in Brisbane.

Tomorrow, Matthew Mott has a chance to build a long innings, but it will need to be a speedy one if Victoria are any chance to press for the six points