Tigers prosper as Mason hits first ton

HOBART, Jan 16 AAP - Scott Mason hit his maiden first class century as Tasmania found rare prosperity in the Pura Cup match against Victoria at Bellerive Oval today.

The Tigers, who have struggled to post a decent score all season, finished the second day at 3-268 in their second innings, an overall lead of 214 runs, as they frustrated Victoria's drive for its first outright in Hobart for 17 years.

Mason, who has almost trebled his previous best score of 61, hit an unbeaten 168 in an innings of contrasts - gritty early before an acceleration through his second 50 and a steady accumulation, punctuated by occasional bursts of aggression thereafter.

But the Victorians were convinced he was caught behind on 112, one of a number of decisions that left captain Darren Berry unhappy.

Berry said there had been six or seven genuinely bad mistakes in the match.

They included Mason's escape and Ben Oliver surviving a leg before appeal shortly afterwards.

In the context of the game, Berry said, the decisions were disappointing.

On the other hand, he didn't think Oliver was out when he was given lbw for 31 just before stumps.

Mason, a 26-year-old lefthander, debuted for Tasmania five seasons ago and has been more out then in the team since, never securing a place as either opener or in the middle order.

He was out first ball in the first innings.

Mason, whose family came down from Launceston to watch him, said it was fantastic to get the monkey off his back.

"It's such a relief, now I know I can do it."

Today's play turned yesterday's, when 18 wickets fell, on its head as the deck lost its juice.

Only five batsmen were dismissed and two of them were Victorians as Tasmania mopped up the tail in just over half an hour at the start. Victoria was dismissed for 174, a first innings lead of 54.

Mason, promoted back to opener, and captain Jamie Cox wiped all but two of that lead off in the rest of the first session before Cox went for 28 to the last ball before the break.

Allrounder Scott Kremerskothen batted with Mason through the middle session, putting on 112 runs.

Kremerskothen was the nearly silent partner, contributing 28 to a stand worth 127 runs.

But there was no relief when he finally went shortly after tea.

Oliver, a recruit from Victoria debuting for the Tigers, stayed with Mason until the second last over of the day.

There were few blemishes Mason's innings that combined great concentration with searing cuts, handsome drives and occasional pulls.

He's batted for 351 minutes, faced 267 balls and hit 24 fours and one six and on today's display it's hard to understand why it's taken so long for him to produce an innings of real quality.

The Victorians plugged away with discipline and control, but little penetration, none more so than Ian Harvey, who took 1-40 from 15 overs.

Michael Di Venuto (2) will continue with Mason tomorrow in a match that 24 hours ago looked like ending inside two days and now will probably go the full distance.