A brilliant 181 from opener AusItalian Michael Di Venuto has led Tasmania to 8-368 at stumps on day one of its top-of-the-table Pura Cup clash against New South Wales at Bellerive Oval.

Bidding to claim at least first-innings points to ensure they will host the competition final from March 19-23, the Tigers' innings was dominated by Di Venuto's superb knock, which included 24 fours and came from 270 balls.

But with Di Venuto falling in the final over of the day the visiting Blues, who lost skipper Simon Katich on the first morning to a thumb injury, will give themselves a good chance of pushing for at least the two points.

Di Venuto also shared stands of 126 for the third wicket with Travis Birt, who made 53, and 90 for the eighth wicket with Damien Wright, who will resume on 40 not out on Friday morning.

Mark Cameron took the bowling honours with 4-114 from 22.3 overs, including the prized scalp of Di Venuto, while Stuart MacGill grabbed 3-56 from 23 overs and Doug Bollinger 1-93 from 21 overs.

Having survived a big appeal for a catch at third slip in just the second over, Tim Paine (17) was the first to go when he clipped a ball from Bollinger straight to Ed Cowan at short mid-wicket.

From 1-48 in the ninth over the score became 2-54 in the 10th when Michael Dighton (four) inside-edged a ball from Cameron back onto his stumps but Di Venuto and Birt saw Tasmania to 2-130 at lunch.

Their partnership continued to blossom after the resumption as Di Venuto closed in on three figures, but soon after bringing up his fifty Birt was caught behind off the bowling of Cameron.

Di Venuto and George Bailey added 39 for the fourth wicket but with tea approaching Bailey was trapped in front by MacGill for 25, and the wickets continued to tumble after the resumption.

Luke Butterworth (seven) was bowled by MacGill and 5-234 became 6-261 when Cameron chimed in to send Sean Clingeleffer (11) on his way, before MacGill also dismissed Jason Krejza (10) lbw with the score on 278.

But Di Venuto and Wright wrested back the initiative to push Tasmania towards 400 in the final hour, only for a tired Di Venuto to fall third-ball of the 96th over. Sportal

Tasmania 1st innings
Di Venuto c Rohrer b Cameron 181
Paine c Cowan b Bollinger 17
Dighton b Cameron 4
Birt c Smith b Cameron 53
Bailey lbw b MacGill 25
Butterworth b MacGill 7
Clingeleffer c Jaques b Cameron 11
Krejza lbw b MacGill 10
Wright not out 40
Extras: 20 (b 4, lb 1, nb 15)
Total: 368 (8 wickets, 95.3 overs)

FoW: 1-48, 2-54, 3-180, 4-219, 5-234, 6-261, 7-278, 8-368

Bowling:
Bollinger 21 - 1 - 93 - 1 (6nb)
Cameron 22.3 - 2 - 114 - 4 (8nb)
Lambert 21 - 2 - 72 - 0 (1nb)
Casson 8 - 1 - 28 - 0
MacGill 23 - 3 - 56 - 3