Tassie’s Riley Meredith has struck a crucial blow to visiting Bulls

Young Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith has struck a crucial blow in the last over of the day to stifle Queensland’s charge towards an improbable record breaking run chase at Blundstone Arena.

Matthew Renshaw of the Bulls on day three of the Round 6 Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ROB BLAKERS.

UPDATED: YOUNG Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith has struck a crucial blow in the last over of the day to stifle Queensland’s charge towards an improbable record breaking run chase at Blundstone Arena.

The defending Sheffield Shield champions climbed off the canvas to put themselves in a position to pull off the highest fourth innings pursuit at the venue in the competition’s history, with Test discards Joe Burns (74) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out) combining for a 126-run partnership for the second wicket.

But on the third-last ball of day three Burns chopped Meredith back onto his stumps as the visitors finished the day 2-164, with the remaining 250 runs required well within reach on a pitch which has flattened out.

Having been behind the eightball since slumping to 8-86 at stumps on day one, the Bulls cashed in on some wayward Tasmanian bowling yesterday afternoon to give themselves a genuine chance of overhauling their 414 run target.

Riley Meredith of the Tigers bowls on day three of the Round 6 Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at Blundstone Arena. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ROB BLAKERS

George Bailey (left) and Riley Meredith of the Tigers on day two of the Round 6 Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at Blundstone Arena. Picture: AAP Image/ROB BLAKERS

However Tigers all rounder Simon Milenko declared he would still much rather be in the host’s camp.

“That one helps significantly, the game was delicately poised but I think we would still prefer to be in our shoes, still got a 250-odd run lead and there will still be enough in the wicket tomorrow to hopefully get the job done,” Milenko said.

“I don’t think we executed as well as we would have liked, it’s probably not our greatest day out in the field… this pitch is quite a bit flatter than the last couple which means it’s quite a bit more abrasive and I think we have just started to get the ball reversing a little bit.”

After George Bailey completed his 24th first class century inside the first three overs on day three, leg spinner Mitchell Swepson (4-99) cleaned up the tail as Tasmania was bowled out for 353.

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Matt Renshaw gave the chase a rocketing start with two boundaries and two sixes in his 27 from 24 balls, before Burns and Labuschagne set about chipping away at their task.

“We have batted really well on this ground before, last three years we have got some big scores on the ground, guys in our team have got hundreds on this ground, so there is a lot of confidence in our shed,” Labuschagne said.

“If we can do the hard work tomorrow morning, it could be a good finish.”

EARLIER: TASMANIA has weathered a Matthew Renshaw cameo to climb into the box seat as it looks to head into the Big Bash break with consecutive Sheffield Shield victories against Queensland.

The Bulls are 1-49 at tea on day three, needing a further 366 runs to pull off a mammoth fourth innings run chase at Blundstone Arena.

Joe Burns is unbeaten on 14, with Marnus Labuschagne seven not out.

Jackson Bird picked up the prized scalp of Renshaw, who bolted out of the blocks with 27 from 24 balls, before being undone by a beauty from around the wicket which angled in, straightened and cannoned into off stump.

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Renshaw had picked off a pair of sixes over square leg flicking full balls off his pads to set an aggressive tone to the chase, which if successful would be one of the highest in the history of the competition.

The visitors have plenty of time – there are still a minimum 120 overs left in the match – to overhaul the target and despite the pitch flattening out it would take a huge effort.

Tasmania was bowled out for 353 in its second innings, with leg spinner Mitch Swepson picking up the last four wickets after lunch to finish with 4-99.

Saturday’s action from Day two: Matthew Renshaw of the Bulls (rear) dives for a catch from Jordan Silk of the Tigers during the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at Blundstone Arena. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ROB BLAKERS

Swepson ended a 79-run partnership between Simon Milenko (53) and Alex Pyecroft (29) when he plucked a sensational caught and bowled in his right hand from a full blooded swipe from Pyecroft before running through the tail.

Milenko registered his 10th Shield half century, perishing shortly after looking to up the run rate when he skied a catch to deep mid wicket.

Earlier in the first session George Bailey needed just three overs to bring up his 24th first class century, completing a welcomed form turnaround after standing down as captain just over a week ago following a slow start to the season which yielded just 45 runs in his first six innings.