Victoria 106 and 373 for 8 (Maddinson 109, Harris 76, Handscomb 71, Carlisle 3-63) want 69 extra runs to beat Tasmania 240 and 307
Victoria coach Chris Rogers was pinning his hopes on a Will Sutherland masterclass after his aspect suffered a expensive late collapse in their Sheffield Shield match towards Tasmania in Hobart.
However a collapse of 4 for 25 late in the day thrust Tasmania again into the field seat. Victoria’s hopes relaxation in the fingers of Sutherland, Todd Murphy and No.11 Peter Siddle.
Sutherland was nonetheless fortunate to be there after being dropped by Beau Webster on 7. Webster reached throughout his team-mate at slip in a bid to take the one-handed catch, but it surely went down.
“We’re nonetheless in it. It seems like a protracted technique to go, however there’s nonetheless hope,” Rogers mentioned. “You by no means know what can occur.
“Will Sutherland remains to be there. He can rating and rating shortly. If he can get some assist down the opposite finish, you by no means know what can occur.”
Victoria entered the match second on the desk and realizing a loss might tumble them to as little as fourth with only one spherical remaining.
However a win over Tasmania would depart them in the prime place to safe a spot in the ultimate – and presumably internet hosting rights – forward of their final-round conflict with Western Australia at Junction Oval.
Tasmania can safe their spot in the decider with victory, with internet hosting rights additionally inside their attain.
A whopping 17 wickets fell on the opening day and 13 on the second at Blundstone Enviornment. However the pitch seemed as flat as a street for many of day three as Maddinson and Harris put the Tasmanian assault to the sword. Maddinson’s ton, his third in consecutive Shield matches, got here off simply 112 balls, with 14 fours and a six.
His departure sparked a chaotic interval in which Pucovski retired damage after being struck by a Meredith bouncer as Victoria misplaced 3 for 33.
Pucovski went into the match having suffered at the least 11 earlier concussions in his profession, and it stays to be seen what influence his newest head knock can have on his taking part in future.
