Tasmania solid in run chase

MELBOURNE, Nov 2 AAP - Victoria removed the Tasmanian openers in the hour before lunch on the final day of their Pura Cup cricket match here today at the MCG.

The Tigers were 2-111 chasing 365 for the outright win, with Michael Dighton 12 and Shane Watson on nine.h

Tasmania resumed at 0-50 and had few troubles putting on another 39 runs, before wicket keeper Darren Berry took a sharp catch down the leg side off part-time spinner Brad Hodge, removing Jamie Cox for 26.

Ten runs later, Michael Di Venuto played back defensively to a Shane Warne delivery and after hitting the ground the ball fizzed back onto his off stump for 55.

Victoria declared yesterday afternoon at 2-236, having bowled out Tasmania earlier in the day for 224 in reply to the Bushrangers' 9 (dec)-353.