Stubborn Bevan and Birt delay Victoria

Tasmania 3 for 158 (Birt 57, Bevan 51*) trail Victoria 8 dec for 477 (Hodge 140, Elliott 89, White 75, Arnberger 60, Griffith 6-124) by 319 runs
Scorecard

Tasmania defied Victoria, whose title defence virtually rests on an outright win, with a stubborn display led by Michael Bevan and Travis Birt at the MCG. Bevan, who survived a close appeal to an Adam Crosthwaite catch on 33, passed 900 runs for the season and was unbeaten on 51 after taking up 146 balls and hitting four fours.

Birt slowly moved to a half-century as he batted for two hours against an attack including Shane Warne, who he hit for six. Birt was removed by Jonathan Moss, and he further brightened the Bushrangers' mood with Michael Di Venuto's scalp in the day's second-last over as the Tigers finished with 3 for 158.

Adam Griffith dismissed the four first-session batsmen and completed his fourth five-wicket haul of the summer, starting with Brad Hodge, who did not progress from his overnight 140. Cameron White made an aggressive 75 before falling, while Warne was out for 0 and Crosthwaite 11, leaving Griffith with 6 for 124 from 35 overs. Victoria, who are fourth, need to win to give themselves a chance of reaching the final.