Two wickets in the shadows of stumps have put Tasmania within striking distance of a remarkable Sheffield Shield victory over Victoria, setting the stage for a thrilling final day of the Scott Mason Memorial Match at Ninja Stadium.
Gabe Bell (3-22) and Riley Meredith (2-17) struck crucial late blows to leave the visitors at 5-98 in pursuit of 271, with former Test opener Marcus Harris looming as the biggest roadblock to a Tigers triumph.
Victoria will resume Thursday requiring another 173 runs for victory, while Tasmania need just five wickets to complete an extraordinary turnaround after slumping to 7-45 on the opening morning.
With momentum swinging wildly throughout the first three days, the Tigers seized the initiative late on Wednesday when Bell removed dangerous all-rounder Matt Short before Meredith dismissed nightwatchman Todd Murphy in the dying stages of play.
Harris, who top-scored for Victoria in the first innings with 54, remains unbeaten on 39 and shapes as the pivotal wicket in what promises to be a gripping final-day finish.
Earlier, Tasmania resumed at 4-39, holding an overall lead of 73 runs with first-innings heroes Ben McDermott and Jake Doran at the crease.
Having combined for a state-record 166-run eighth-wicket partnership on Monday, the pair took the score to 75 before McDermott was sharply caught by Short at short cover.
Doran continued to anchor the innings but fell three runs short of a second half-century for the match when trapped LBW by Todd Murphy.
When Mitch Owen and Meredith departed, Tasmania's lead was still just 189 with only two wickets remaining and Victoria threatening to seize control of the contest.
However, Nikhil Chaudhary produced a superb counterattacking knock of 81, finding a willing ally in Bell as the pair added a crucial 73 runs for the ninth wicket.
Bell showed impressive composure in registering the highest score of his first-class career, finishing unbeaten on 35 as Tasmania pushed its lead beyond 250.
With a century in sight, Chaudhary's innings ended when he hooked a short delivery straight to fine leg, before Marcus Bean departed shortly afterwards to leave the Tigers all out for 236.
Having played a pivotal role with the bat, Bell then wasted little time making his mark with the ball.
The experienced quick struck twice in eight balls before tea, removing Campbell Kellaway and Ollie Peake for ducks as both edged through to wicketkeeper Doran.
The double breakthrough left Victoria on the back foot, but Harris and fellow veteran Peter Handscomb (39) steadied the innings with a 66-run partnership.
The pair safely navigated their way to the drinks break in the final session before Meredith struck immediately upon the resumption, tempting Handscomb into pulling a short delivery straight to deep square leg.
With Harris continuing to hold firm, Bell returned for another spell late in the day and delivered a vital breakthrough, removing Short to claim his third wicket and swing the momentum firmly back Tasmania's way.
Meredith then added to Victoria's woes by dismissing nightwatchman Murphy shortly before stumps, ensuring the Tigers would enter the final day with their noses in front.
“It's been an interesting day, as have been the first few,” Bell said. “It seems to be fast moving, and then a partnership will build, and then fast moving again.
“It's just really ebbed and flowed, and you’ve got to sort of ride those waves as they come.
“But I think it was a good fourth day from both teams, and [we’re] just trying to hold on to the momentum we built this evening.
“The whole game it's been a bit of a new ball wicket. The first 15, 20 overs have been clearly toughest at bat, and then if you bat well enough, there's runs to be had.
“To get early wickets is massive for the context of the game and to then get a few late there as well, put them under that foot hopefully and keep building pressure for tomorrow.”
After three days of dramatic collapses, record partnerships and constant momentum shifts, Tasmania will now look to finish the job and secure a memorable victory in the annual memorial contest.
Play resumes at 10:23am Thursday.