The batting of Darren and Damien featured in the lead-up to a declaration. Its effect was then negated by the discipline of Dighton and Di Venuto as Victoria and Tasmania fought out an even second day of the Pura Cup clash between the teams here in Melbourne today.

But D-day in the match might still be as many as 48 hours away with the teams locked in a battle within a battle for six outright points that could potentially define each of their seasons.

After experiencing frustration at the hands of Darren Berry (62*) and Damien Fleming (39*) as Victoria made its way to 8/371 before a lunchtime closure, the Tasmanians had looked in further trouble when they surrendered two early wickets in the reply.

But an unbroken 141-run union for the third wicket between Michael Dighton (78*) and Michael Di Venuto (68*) re-imposed their side's mark on the game. In carrying the visitors to comfort at a scoreline of 2/191 by stumps, it also eased them into an excellent position from which they might be able to shape the destiny of the match.

In light of a forecast that indicates rain will hit Melbourne during the match's final day, the Tasmanians are likely to be interested in claiming first innings honours tomorrow before challenging the points-desperate Victorians to throw the match open a second time.

While Tasmania's Cup juggernaut keeps rolling inexorably forward, though, it might well have crashed and burned if the home team had not granted Dighton three slices of fortune in the midst of his plucky innings. Errant cuts should have brought him undone at 53 and 58 but resulted in dropped catches at slip by Brad Hodge and at point by Michael Klinger respectively. A sharp caught and bowled chance at 33 had earlier eluded leg spinner Cameron White (1/41) to add to mounting Victorian frustration.

The Victorian attack had shown signs of early intent by regularly defeating the bats of both openers with the new ball. Jamie Cox (24) and Scott Mason (11) each flirted with danger, playing and missing serially outside the line of off stump at both Fleming (0/32) and newcomer Will Carr (0/29).

Paradoxically, bowling changes eventually yielded both wickets, with Mason summarily driving loosely at an outswinger and presenting a catch to third slip as Mick Lewis (1/28) was introduced. Cox's stay then ended when umpire Geoff Morrow upheld an appeal for a short leg catch as an attempt to sweep at White ended with the ball lobbing just beyond Klinger's crouching pose at short leg.

Cox had looked out at 3 when trapped on his crease by Fleming but wasn't; then didn't look out at 24 when he was. He greeted Morrow's latter decision with restrained disgust.

But that was the cue for the entry of Di Venuto and an exhibition of impressive resolve.

Toward the end of a first-class season that has been savaged by an ankle injury, a bout of food poisoning and a selection panel that elected to axe him after generally indifferent form, he played a masterful innings.

His bat was even touted as a cannon at times as he drilled several matter-of-fact boundaries and peppered the bowling with a series of murderous on drives. The stylish left hander also embedded an air of responsibility in his game that must have represented an immensely heartening development for his state's hierarchy.

Dighton capitalised on his reprieves all the while by adorning sagacious defence with a mix of elegant drives that helped keep the Tigers' score moving at a respectable clip.

Earlier, Berry and Fleming had offered contributions of inestimable value of their own for Victoria as the locals swelled their overnight score of 6/257 to its eventual resting place.

Following up a score of 148 in his last first-class appearance, Berry looked at ease against both spin and pace in an innings that formed the backbone of important stands of 65 with Ian Harvey (87) for the seventh wicket and 69 with a belligerent Fleming for the ninth.

The only two wickets to fall in the morning session each went the way of young left arm spinner Xavier Doherty (2/78), though paceman David Saker (4/71) continued to test the batsmen in a spell that netted six successive maidens at one point.

© 2002 CricInfo Ltd