Middle-order batsman Cameron White has kept Victoria's second innings alive going into the final day of their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania, who boast a seemingly unassailable 162-run lead.
The visitors were 7-239 at stumps at Bellerive Oval on Saturday and seemed to be delaying the inevitable, but an unbeaten 124-run partnership by White (100 not out) and No.9 Scott Boland (51no) kept kicking.
White was handed lifelines on eight and 81 - dropped at slip and fumbled by the keeper, respectively.
He went on to make his century from 118 balls, including 15 boundaries and a six, just before the end of play.
Boland reached his 50 from 90 balls.
White was realistic about what lies ahead on Sunday.
"We're a long way behind in the game. A lot of things would have to go right for us to bat well into the (final) day," he said.
"Hopefully, we can just keep batting for a while."
White credited Tasmania's bowling early in both innings for the cheap demise of Victoria's top order.
They returned to a flattening Hobart pitch midway through the first session on day three, with Tassie claiming a 401-run first-innings lead.
Opener Travis Dean (41) looked as if he might have sparked but was one of four batsmen caught by keeper Tom Triffitt.
Evan Gulbis (4-41) was the pick of Tassie's bowlers and Andrew Fekete (2-44) was valuable.
"We're in a really good position and that's the important part," Gulbis said, denying his side felt frustrated by the Bushrangers' late persistence.
"We're here to play four days of cricket and we're looking forward to coming back (on Sunday) and getting the last three wickets."
Earlier on Saturday, Tasmania finished their first innings 8(dec)-566 thanks to centuries by opener Ben Dunk (190), former Test batsman Alex Doolan (119) and skipper George Bailey (107).
