Tasmania had begun a pursuit of 318 for victory over Victoria after a fluctuating and tempestuous third day on which 14 wickets fell in the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart.

Having bowled the Tigers out for 235 in the morning, the Bushrangers soon slid to 3 for 10 as Ben Hilfenhaus and Luke Butterworth made the new ball count.

However David Hussey was reprieved in the 11th over of the innings when the umpires declined an appeal for caught behind from Hilfenhaus, judging a low edge had not carried to the wicketkeeper Brady Jones.

Tasmania's captain George Bailey remonstrated over the decision at some length, and the incident may have affected the hosts' composure as Hussey and Matthew Wade added 150 critical runs, the Bushrangers' gloveman completing a fine double following his first innings 108.

Hussey's eventual departure, lofting the part-time spin of Nick Kruger to long off, heralded another twist to the day, as the final seven wickets went down for 30 runs. Hilfenhaus claimed five wickets, his first such haul since 2008.

The Tigers openers Ed Cowan and Steven Cazzulino reached 0 for 23 by the close, leaving Tasmania with some chance of claiming the outright points they require to build momentum after a poor start to the Shield campaign.