Probing pace trio Ben Hilfenhaus (3-79), Luke Butterworth (2-20) and Damien Wright (3-38) shared all eight wickets to leave the Blues trailing by 133 and a long way from getting on equal terms with the hungry Tigers.

Phil Jaques' resolute four-hour 82, with 10 fours, off 169 balls underpinned NSW's uncomfortable pursuit of Tasmania's 340 on another fine, warm day, which ended with Grant Lambert on 43 and Doug Bollinger three.

The Blues' only productive partnership was the 89 Jaques and Dominic Thornely (41) put on for the third-wicket from 2-48 after Hilfenhaus had removed Ed Cowan (17) and Simon Katich (four) soon after lunch.

Cowan did not offer a shot to an inswinger and was bowled and fellow left-hander Katich tickled an outswinger to wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer.

Thornely's departure off the fourth ball after tea - caught at deep backward square leg by Butterworth off Hilfenhaus - triggered a startling collapse in which the Blues lost 6-60 in 26 overs.

Jaques survived two loud lbw appeals when 12 and 53 - by Hilfenhaus and Butterworth respectively - and Thornely, on 28, gave a very sharp chance to Wright in the gully off Butterworth.

But Butterworth struck twice soon after Thornely had left, trapping Ben Rohrer (one) lbw and having Daniel Smith (five) caught at short cover by George Bailey.

Then it was Wright's turn, and he forced Jaques to edge a drive onto his stumps and had Nathan Hauritz (one) and Matthew Nicholson (two) caught by Dan Marsh at first slip - 3-8 in a superb eight-over spell.

Tasmania had resumed at 7-283, with Butterworth on 40 and Wright 57, and lost 3-57 off 17.5 overs. It was a huge comeback from 5-94 soon after lunch on day one.

Wright added 10 to his overnight score before cutting Nicholson uppishly and straight to Cowan at short third man in the fifth over of the day.

Butterworth and Wright had put on 111 in 33 overs in a superb recovery that hauled Tasmania from 7-188 to 8-299, with Wright's grand 133-minute 67 coming off 105 balls, with a six and nine fours.

Lambert ended the innings 40 minutes before lunch by having Butterworth (66, with eight fours) and Adam Griffith (19) caught by wicketkeeper Smith in successive overs - for figures of 3-87 off 20.5 overs.

Tall left-hander Butterworth's invaluable 139-ball, 199-minute stay had produced his first half-century in five first-class matches.

Tasmania 1st innings
Di Venuto c Smith b Lambert 24
Paine b Bollinger 0
Dighton c Smith b Bollinger 33
Birt lbw Nicholson 32
Bailey c Smith b Bollinger 1
Marsh c Hauritz b Bollinger 44
Clingeleffer c Thornely b Bollinger 41
Butterworth c Smith b Lambert 66
Wright c Cowan b Nicholson 67
Griffith c Smith b Lambert 19
Hilfenhaus not out 0
Extras: 13 (1b, 8lb, 3nb, 1w)
Total: 340 (10 wickets; 107.5 overs)

FoW: 1-2, 2-44, 3-84, 4-90, 5-94, 6-173, 7-188, 8-299, 9-335, 10-340

Bowling:
Nicholson 23 - 8 - 66 - 2
Bollinger 26 - 6 - 73 - 5 (1nb)
Lambert 20.5 - 2 - 87 - 3 (1nb)
Thornely 7 - 2 - 21 - 0 (1nb)
Hauritz 7 - 1 - 22 - 0 (1w)
MacGill 24 - 3 - 62 - 0

NSW 1st innings
Jaques b Wright 82
Cowan b Hilfenhaus 17
Katich c Clingeleffer b Hilfenhaus 4
Thornely c Butterworth b Hilfenhaus 41
Rohrer lbw b Butterworth 1
Smith c Bailey b Butterworth 5
Lambert not out 43
Nicholson c Marsh b Wright 2
Bollinger not out 3
Extras: 8 (6lb, 2nb)
Total: 207 (8 wickets; 70 overs)

FoW: 1-40, 2-48, 3-137, 4-141, 5-155, 6-169, 7-171, 8-197

Bowling:
Hilfenhaus 23 - 4 - 79 - 3
Griffith 16 - 2 - 63 - 0 (2nb)
Wright 15 - 5 - 38 - 3
Butterworth 14 - 6 - 20 - 2
Marsh 2 - 1 - 1 - 0

Sportal