The home side were left to chase 253 on a surface that has offered assistance throughout
Victoria 199 and 0 for 8 need 245 more runs to beat Tasmania 188 and 263 (Doran 98)
Jake Doran played arguably the innings of his career with a brilliantly complied 98 on a demanding pitch at the MCG to give Tasmania a good chance of victory having set a target of 253.
Doran was the ninth man out, edging James Pattinson to slip, having faced 237 deliveries, only five of which were boundaries, on a surface that offered help for pace and spin. His innings, which followed a half-century in the first innings, enabled the last five wickets to add 147 before Victoria’s openers managed to get through a testing four overs.
In total, Tasmania fought their way to 199 further runs on the third day in 90 overs having resumed on 2 for 64. The match appeared to have tipped Victoria’s way when Mac Wright’s 129-ball stay ended with an edge to slip off Scott Boland who then claimed Caleb Jewell in the slips to leave Tasmania 4 for 90.
Alex Doolan fell trying to attack Jon Holland, but Beau Webster (22) and Jarrod Freeman (30) provided valuable contributions alongside Doran as the lead slowly grew towards 200.
A 47-run stand for the eighth wicket between Doran and Ellis then strengthened Tasmania’s position further before the last three wickets fell for five runs. Jake Fraser-McGurk held a stunning reflex grab at short leg to remove Ellis while last-man Peter Siddle, who has a damaged left thumb, edged a delivery from Holland that spat from the surface.
Holland finished with 2 for 46 from 33 overs while Pattinson produced some unplayable deliveries among his 3 for 54.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo