Hobart, March 7 -- Tasmania's hopes of returning to the Sheffield Shield final are effectively over after they collapsed to a 70-run defeat to ladder-leaders Victoria.
Chasing 325 for a fourth-innings victory on Saturday, the hosts fell from from 2-170 to be all out for 254 in Hobart. Mitchell Perry was the chief destroyer for Victoria, taking 5-45, while Fergus O'Neill finished with 3-61.
With Victoria having already wrapped up a home final, Tasmania are now likely too far behind South Australia and Queensland to finish in the top two.
Tasmania had appeared some chance of pulling off the chase early on Saturday, with Tim Ward in good touch and 155 runs needed with eight wickets in hand.
The left-hander looked strong on the drive, while...