Victoria faces a big test of character if it is to save its Pura Cup cricket match after Tasmania batted itself into an almost impregnable position in Hobart today.

At stumps on day two, Tasmania was 6-435 with a first innings lead of 296.

Its overwhelming position was built on a Michael Dighton century and big half centuries by Daniel Marsh, Shaun Young and wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer.

The Victorian attack, minus the injured Damien Fleming, laboured long and hard to keep the Tasmanian scoring rate under control on a sullen first day of summer when a cold and swirling wind dislodged bails and sent rubbish skidding across the ground.

Dighton and Marsh laid the foundation, batting through the rain-shortened morning session and well into the afternoon.

Dighton, who had scored only 23 runs in four previous innings after being recruited from Western Australia, hit 126 in 319 minutes with 18 fours and a six.

He was marooned on 90 for 37 minutes in an innings punctuated by elegant drives and sweetly timed flicks off his pads.

With regular No.3 Michael Di Venuto due to return from injury, Dighton's form gives Tasmania some needed competition in the top order.

Marsh, who was once regarded as a spinner who could bat but now holds his position almost entirely through his batting, deserved his century.

But he fell, from his first seriously false stroke, for 97 - an innings built largely on his powerful cutting.

After Marsh and Dighton, having put on 184 runs, went in successive overs to the second new ball, Young and Clingeleffer continued the Victorian torture.

They batted until deep into the evening, adding a further 119 runs before Young lofted a drive off part-time spinner Brad Hodge and went for 70.

Clingeleffer batted on, steadily blossoming after a scratchy start, to finish on 73.

In his last three first class innings he's amassed 242 runs without being dismissed and has given Tasmania a batsman of quality at No.7.

He'll resume in the morning with Damien Wright on 16.

© 2001 AAP