Vics, Tigers locked in tight Shield battle

Victoria are back in the hunt for their first win of the Sheffield Shield season after a remarkable day-three fightback against Tasmania.

Debutant Sam Elliott struck an unbeaten 80 at the MCG on Saturday to help set the Tigers a victory target of 238.

The visitors stuttered in response before Ben McDermott (46 not out) and Jake Doran (5no) guided them through to stumps at 4-151.

Tasmania are in the stronger position, requiring a further 87 runs for outright victory on Sunday with six wickets remaining, but the match is delicately poised.

"A decent partnership should do it but there's still enough in the wicket, so we've got to come prepared in the morning and get a little partnership going," McDermott said.

"You get a little bit of purchase on it when you bash into the wicket and there's a few naughty spots there back of a length.

"If we can negate that, we should be fine."

Will Sutherland (2-28) made two important breakthroughs for Victoria, removing opener Caleb Jewell (six) and Matthew Wade (35), who had made a strong start.

Fergus O'Neill (1-40) had Tim Ward (20) caught at first slip and Jon Holland (1-33) trapped Jordan Silk (36) lbw.

Earlier on Saturday, Elliott took a leaf out his famous father's book with the bat in a superb knock to help lift Victoria to 336 in their second innings.

Sam Harper (57) and tailender Holland (55) also hit vital half-centuries in Victoria's rearguard.

The winless Vics had been staring down the barrel of another defeat when they slumped to 5-115 late on day two, having trailed by 99 runs on the first innings.

But the 22-year-old son of former Test opener Matthew Elliott came in at No.9 and combined with Harper in a vital 84-run partnership that extended into day three, turning the match on its head.

Elliott and veteran Holland then put on an unexpected 96 for the ninth wicket.

"I was thinking the longer I bat, the longer I get to bat on the MCG. That was enough motivation for me," Elliott said.

"I think it's pretty evenly poised. If we can take a couple of early wickets (on Sunday), you never know what can happen.

"We speak about magic games and magic moments, and I feel like this could be one for us.

"There's enough there (in the wicket) and if you put the ball in the right area it's tough to score. Something will happen if you're consistent enough."

Holland's blistering innings matched his previous best first-class tally as he smashed eight boundaries and a six in just 50 balls.

Elliott, who also hit eight boundaries, was on 19 when he survived a huge lbw shout by Jackson Bird.

He then frustrated Tasmania's front-line paceman by nicking the next ball through the slips for four.

Former Test quicks Bird (4-54) and Peter Siddle (2-33) did not add to their wicket tallies after tearing through Victoria's top order on day two.

Siddle did not bowl on Saturday, with ex-Australian captain Tim Paine fielding as the substitute.

Tasmania held a 99-run first innings lead courtesy of Doran's 85 and some brilliant bowling from Bird (4-13) and Siddle (3-34) on day one as they skittled Victoria for 121.

Elliott claimed 3-45 in Tasmania's first innings.