Tigers gain upper hand

Victoria is heading for defeat as it strives to pull off a record run chase against Tasmania in Saturday night's Ford Ranger Cup clash at the MCG.

The Bushrangers need 301 to win the 50-over clash, which would surpass their previous-best run chase of 2-296 against New South Wales in Canberra three seasons ago.

But after 25 overs the Bushrangers were struggling at 4-126 with their star batsman Brad Hodge - fresh from a century in both the Sheffield Shield and the Ford Ranger Cup clashes against South Australia last week - having just been dismissed for 42 in the 25th over after being caught at backward point off the bowling of Jason Krejza.

Earlier, Tasmania's total was built on Rhett Lockyear's maiden domestic limited-overs century as the late replacement for the injured Luke Butterworth smashed 111 off just 98 balls.

Lockyear received great support from skipper George Bailey (63) as the pair shared a 138-run stand for the third wicket while Travis Birt ensured the Bushrangers would need to score at six runs an over to win their first home one-dayer of the summer after smashing 66 off just 54 balls.

The home side's reply started well with openers Rob Quiney and Chris Rogers belting 50 off the first eight overs but their stand ended soon after when Rogers was given out caught behind for 18 off Krejza despite television replays appearing to suggest the ball only hit his pad.

Quiney followed soon after when caught at mid-wicket by Birt off the bowling of Brendan Drew for 40 and when acting captain David Hussey was caught behind off Drew for eight, the Bushrangers were in deep trouble at 3-95 with Hodge's dismissal appearing to leave the team in a hopeless position.