Elyse Vilani scores a century to knock Tassie off top

Batting first in the top-of-the-table clash at Bellerive Oval, the Tigers made a respectable 9-255 but a sensational unbeaten century from Elyse Villani put a fifth win out of the question.

After losing opener Rachel Priest with just the second ball of the game, captain Sasha Moloney and the in-form Nicola Carey set about building the innings, with the latter departing for 33 after combining for 55.

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Her departure brought Heather Graham to the crease, which didn't deter Moloney's momentum as they both brought up their half-centuries in their 120-run partnership.

The pair were only separated by a brilliant piece of fielding at backward point by Hobart Hurricane Tayla Vlaeminck, bringing Graham's spell to an end at 59 as Naomi Stalenberg joined Moloney.

The pair lasted five overs before Moloney's captain's knock came to an end for 69, sparking a rapid chain of dismissals for the Tigers.

After Moloney's departure at 4-203, the home side lost four wickets for just four runs in the space of under three overs to be teetering at 7-207 until Stalenberg put them back on the right path - finishing with an unbeaten 63 from 50 balls.

The Tigers were made to wait until the 11^th over for a breakthrough but one wicket brought two as Sam Bates removed Sophie Molineux followed by Australian skipper Meg Lanning for a second-ball duck.

But following Lanning was fellow international gun Ellyse Perry, who combined with Villani for a massive third-wicket partnership of 161 as they looked like taking the win themselves.

Bates had other plans, striking again for her third to remove Perry for 69 at 3-196 as two wickets in three balls in the future overs brought on panic stations for the Vics.

But with Villani still at the crease, they held their nerve, with the opening superstar carrying her bat for an unbeaten 133 as she iced the cake with 11 balls remaining, guiding a four through the vacant backward square leg.

The Tigers have a week's break before their next clash against Queensland Fire at Bellerive Oval on March 7.

Victoria 5-256 (Villani 133*, Perry 69, Bates 3-42, Vakarewa 1-43) d Tasmania 5-255 (Moloney 69, Stalenberg 63*, Strano 4-46)