Tasmania is in the box seat to pick up a crucial Sheffield Shield win at the MCG, but only after the son of a Victorian legend gave the hosts a sniff of victory with a stunning knock in his first-class debut.
The Vics were in all sorts of trouble when they slumped to be 7-155 with only a slender lead of Tasmania, but Sam Elliott – the son of former Test opener Matthew Elliott – saved their blushes with a dogged 80 not out to help the hosts post 336.
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Playing in his first Sheffield Shield game, Elliott – who came in at nine – shared an 84-run stand with wicketkeeper Sam Harper before he and Jon Holland put on a lightning quick 96-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Holland’s brutal knock of 55 off just 50 deliveries included eight boundaries and a six in his highest ever first-class score.
But it was Elliott’s poise in the middle which should have Victorian fans excited after he earlier took three wickets with the ball in Tasmania’s first innings, removing both openers in a stunning spell.
Tasmania’s struggles with the ball on the third day weren’t helped with Peter Siddle unable to bowl after hurting his ankle in the warmup.
Set 238 for victory, the visitors reached 4/151 at stumps, still needing another 87 runs with Ben McDermott set to resume day four on 46.
Things looked dicey when Matthew Wade departed to leave Tasmania teetering at 3-63, but a 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket put the Tigers back in control before skipper Jordan Silk was trapped in front by Holland.
