Basketballer bounces Bushrangers

HOBART, Jan 18 AAP - A former junior basketball star who's become Tasmanian cricket's find of the year, today bowled the Tigers to their first Pura Cup win of the season.

Adam Griffith, exploiting his six foot six inch frame, took the key wickets as Tasmania dismissed Victoria for 255 to win by 87 runs on the final afternoon at Bellerive Oval.

But Tasmania almost fumbled victory into defeat as they dropped three catches that were costly enough and could have been fatal.

The result extends Victoria's winless Hobart hoodoo to 18 years and dents its hopes of hosting the final, although it did take two points for the first innings lead.

Relieved Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox praised Griffith, who took eight wickets in the match, and Scott Mason, whose second innings 174 was the one really big innings of the match.

He said they'd both produced "career defining" performances.

Victorian captain Darren Berry said he was disappointed to lose the match after bowling Tasmania out for 120 in the first innings.

The Bushrangers started the last day at 4-82 in their second innings and needing an unlikely 262 more runs to win.

Their hopes should have been extinguished in the first half hour. But Jon Moss, on 11, and three balls later Ian Harvey, on 13, were dropped.

The pair, batting positively, proceeded to put on exactly 100 runs until Damien Wright had Moss caught behind for 45.

At lunch Victoria was 5-197 and still a chance. And the fumbles continued when, shortly afterwards, Cameron White was dropped on 28.

But then Griffith, with his ability to make the ball rear off a good length from his great height, took over with the second new ball.

Harvey, on 74, left a ball that seamed back and hit his off stump. Shortly afterwards Griffith bowled White for 41 and that was effectively that.

With Andrew Downton mopping up the tail, Victoria lost 5-58 after lunch to subside to a decisive defeat.

Griffith, 24, is a former Tasmanian under 18 basketball representative who moved from Launceston to Hobart to try to break into first class cricket several years ago.

There were doubts whether he had the stamina to bowl at pace over a four day game, but he's worked hard on his fitness and been helped by Tasmania's boom allrounder Shane Watson, whom he lives with.

He was given his chance mid-way through Tasmania's season and in his last two matches has impressed with his control and ability to exploit his height.