Blues strike as Tigers hunt Shield win

Tasmania's run chase has hit a hurdle on day four as New South Wales picked up a couple of key top-order scalps at the SCG.

Chasing 290 to win, Tasmania advanced slowly to 3-80 at lunch in a potentially pivotal Sheffield Shield contest.

Resuming at 1-19, the Tigers were well placed at 1-58 before opener Tim Ward was bowled by a superb Tanveer Sangha (1-35) leg-break for 32.

The visitors then lost the key wicket of Eammon Vines a few overs prior to the interval, caught behind off the bowling of Harry Conway (1-5).

Vines chewed up 112 balls for his 38, and Tasmania's required run-rate has now blown out to 3.2 an over.

Mac Wright (6) and Jake Doran (2) are the batsmen at the crease.

NSW declared during the final session on Sunday at 9-226 to set a gettable victory target of 290 off 110 overs with rain and storms predicted for later on Monday.