BBL cult hero Jordan Silk is closing in on a Sheffield Shield century and has guided Tasmania past Victoria's first-innings total on day three in Hobart.
At tea at Blundstone Arena, the Tigers (7-423) lead by 72 runs, having begun the day two wickets down and 164 runs behind.
Silk (97no from 118 balls) and Jackson Bird (0 from 0) are at the crease, with Tasmania now in a better position to claim victory than their rivals as the sides prepare for the final session of the day.
Silk replaced reigning Bradman Young Cricketer Tim Ward (91), who missed out on a second Shield century by edging Cameron McClure to wicketkeeper Sam Harper for a regulation catch in the first session.
The Tasmanian captain started his innings patiently but went into overdrive after lunch, bringing his half-century up with a six over deep mid wicket and a four past third man in consecutive balls.
But the fun wasn't over there.
Once the Tasmanians passed the total set by the Victorians 7(dec)-351 around an hour after lunch, Silk and Jarrod Freeman went into party mode to send the run rate skyward.
The pair brought up their 100-run partnership 10 minutes before tea but Freeman (57 runs off just 48 deliveries) was caught at long on by Mitchell Perry on the last ball of the session.
The wicket was the first of the match for Ashes hero Scott Boland, who had been the only Victorian bowler without a scalp to that point.
Former Test captain Tim Paine managed only two runs in his previous knock for the Tigers but was important with a quick 24 runs off only 25 balls as Tasmania made their intentions known after lunch.
Earlier, Victoria set Tasmania a competitive total thanks largely to a century from debutant Ashley Chandrasinghe (119 not out), who announced himself with a mature display at the crease across the first two days of play.
