Victoria's hopes of a quick kill in its must-win Pura Cup cricket match against Tasmania were put on hold as the plucky Tigers denied the home side on day two at the MCG.

While Victoria, which declared its first innings closed at 8-477, held the upper hand at the halfway point, it was frustrated by Tasmania's stubborn resistance with the bat.

The Tigers reached 3-158 at stumps after Jonathan Moss had Michael Di Venuto (23) out lbw in the penultimate over to give the Victorians some cheer in a trying day.

Michael Bevan (51 not out) took his season aggregate past 900 runs with another half-century, but eked up 198 minutes doing so - while Victoria's Brad Hodge on Thursday posted a hundred in 40 minutes less.

The Victorians' patience was tested when Bevan was given the benefit of the doubt after edging medium pacer Ian Harvey, where debut keeper Adam Crosthwaite looked to have snared his first dismissal.

Despite Victoria's strong belief the edge carried, umpires Bruce Oxenford and Dave Orchard conferred and Bevan, then on 33, survived.

Victoria, which still holds a 319-run lead, needs to claim another 17 Tasmanian wickets over the next two days to be any chance of reaching the final.

The Bushrangers declared at lunch after Tasmanian quick Adam Griffith put a halt on the home side's batting feast.

Griffith took all four Victorian wickets to fall to finish with 6-124 from 35 overs and claim a fourth five-wicket haul for the season.

Among his scalps were Hodge, who failed to add to his overnight 140, and rival captain Cameron White (75).

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