Former Test batsman Rob Quiney outshone current Australian opener Chris Rogers as Victoria battled to 3-119 by stumps on a rain-marred first day of the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.
Quiney fought his way to an unbeaten 57 with six fours, having had a life on 24, after losing opening partner Rogers for just three.
Tigers quicks James Faulkner (1-17) and Adam Maher (1-36), and part-timer Mark Cosgrove (1-1), had a wicket apiece for the home side.
"I worked my arse off to get to 50 and it was obviously hard work to bat on," Quiney said.
Two sessions were lost to persistent rain before Tigers captain George Bailey sent the visitors in on a sticky Bellerive strip.
The move looked to have paid off when 36-year-old Rogers was caught in the gully off Maher with score at 1-4.
Rogers, Bailey and Faulkner are all hoping to use the match to tune up for the Ashes series beginning next week in front of national chairman of selectors John Inverarity.
Rogers had already shown some superb early season form, cracking 117 and 88 in the Vics' last Shield outing, against NSW.
"It's easy just to remember an innings under 10 but the four innings before that he's hit the ball beautifully so I'm sure he won't be too bothered about that," Quiney said.
"He's in a good space at the moment."
Quiney and Peter Handscomb (19) dug in before Handscomb was clean-bowled by Faulkner when the score was 2-58.
Former Bushrangers skipper Cameron White (33) fell to Cosgrove's first delivery, an outswinger edged to 'keeper Tim Paine after putting on 55 with Quiney.
"I just try and bowl it, get it down the other end," said Cosgrove.
"It was swinging around which was quite handy."
Night watchman Scott Boland (0no) will resume with Quiney on Thursday morning, when rain easing is forecast for Hobart.
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