11/03/2010 12:11 PM
Victoria is making steady progress towards overhauling Tasmania's first-innings 222 on the second day of play in the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.
At lunch, the Bushrangers were 2-121 having added 117 for the session, with David Hussey unbeaten on 41 from 40 deliveries and Aaron Finch 29 not out.
Tassie took the field on Thursday morning without stand-in skipper Tim Paine who picked-up a side strain while batting on Wednesday.
Paine, who was handed the captaincy at short notice following George Bailey's call-up for ODI duty, hopes to be fit to bat in Tasmania's second innings.
Alex Doolan is Paine's fill-in behind the stumps and Xavier Doherty is deputising as captain.
Veteran opener Nick Jewell and youngster Michael Hill resumed on Thursday with the Vics at 0-4.
Playing just his third innings at Shield level, 21-year-old Hill opened his account for the day with a couple of streaky boundaries, one of them from an inside edge that shaved the leg stump, before settling down to the task.
It was Jewell who set the tone with six boundaries in his hand of 28 before he was snared at first slip by Dan Marsh via the chest of second slipper Rhett Lockyear.
Brendan Drew was the bowler and, in his next over, Drew induced a slash from Hill to present Doolan with a straightforward catch.
Paine's 69 on Wednesday was the highlight of Tasmania's first-innings' 222.
In-form paceman Damien Wright was the best of the Victorian bowlers with 5-49 taking his tally of wickets to 30 at 14.67 from his past five Shield matches.
Early morning showers have passed and conditions in Melbourne are clear with a forecast top temperature of 22 degrees.
Tasmania first innings 222
Victoria first innings
Jewell c Marsh b Drew 28 (41)
Hill c Doolan by Drew 19 (64)
Finch not out 29 (47)
Hussey not out 40 (41)
Extras: 5 (3lb, 2nb)
Total: 121 (2 wickets, 32 overs)
1-48, 2-51
Bowling
Griffith 7 - 1 - 23 - 0
Macdonald 11 - 2 - 38 - 0 (2nb)
Drew 7 - 2 - 31 - 2
Doherty 4 - 02- 5 - 0
Krejza 3 - 0 - 21- 0