Western Australia in final race with big lead against Tasmania

Western Australia maintained their bid to keep pace with Victoria and New South Wales in the race to the Sheffield Shield final by establishing a big first-innings advantage over Tasmania after two days at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

After the Warriors lower order pushed the visitors' first innings up to 367, the Tigers made smooth early progress as Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk added 84 for the opening stand. However, the WA captain Mitchell Marsh, at the end of a difficult season, was able to conjure the key wickets to put his side in command of the contest, dismissing Silk, Doolan and critically the Tigers' leading run-maker Matthew Wade, who was bowled between bat and pad by a ball swerving into him from around the wicket.

Test captain Tim Paine managed to reach 26, but no member of the Tigers XI passed 50 against the WA attack, leaving Marsh's men back at the batting cease before the close with an overall lead of 172 and the chance to set a daunting chase for the hosts.