Hills and Cox get pairs as Tassie struggles

MELBOURNE - Tasmanian openers Jamie Cox and Dene Hills today completed arguably the worst match of their long-standing partnership by both scoring pairs to leave the Tigers struggling for survival in their Pura Cup cricket match against Victoria at the MCG.

Set 353 to win off 120 overs, Tasmania limped to 3-54 at stumps after both Cox and Hills failed to trouble the scorers for a second time in the match.

The Tigers face having to survive another ninety-six overs tomorrow and would need to score at 3.1 per over to pull off an unlikely victory.

And they may be without middle-order batsman Scott Mason, who suffered a suspected broken finger while fielding today.

But it is the form of the opening combination that has served the state with distinction for almost ten years that will cause most concern in the Tasmanian camp tonight.

While skipper Cox still has 563 runs at 51.2 this season, despite his double failure in this match, Hills' career is at the crossroads.

The left hander has now scored only 100 runs at 10 for the season.

He lasted only three balls in Tasmania's second innings today before recklessly slashing a wide delivery from Reiffel to Matthew Mott in the gully.

Five overs later Cox was out LBW, padding up to Matthew Inness, before the Vics struck again to claim the prized wicket of first innings' top scorer Michael Di Venuto.

Di Venuto, who took 344 minutes to score 66 in the first innings, smashed 27 off only 45 balls today before he slashed Mick Lewis to John Davison at backward point.

In stark contrast Victoria's top order continues to shine.

After the Bushrangers quickly wrapped up the Tasmanian first innings for 162, Reiffel chose not to enforce the follow-on.

The decision not only allowed Victoria's bowlers a valuable rest, their freshness in the final session justifying Reiffel's decision, but gave in-form batsmen Brad Hodge and Jason Arnberger the chance to further add to their already impressive seasons.

While star opener Matthew Elliott went cheaply for 14, Arnberger's 67 not out was the foundation of Victoria's second innings of 5/192 declared.

The former New South Welshman now has 464 first class runs for the season at 51.55.

However Hodge's swashbuckling 81 off only 111 balls, including 13 fours, was the innings of the match.

Hodge, who played for Australia "A" against the West Indies last week, has now scored 738 first-class runs for the season at 82.