Langer leads Western Australia chase after Paine 215

Western Australia 1 for 133 (Langer 83*) trail Tasmania 7 for 553 dec (Paine 215, Bevan 83, Birt 71, Bailey 55, Marsh 54, Heal 5-103) by 420 runs
Scorecard

Justin Langer might have thought Western Australia's chances were slipping through his fingers at Perth on day two against Tasmania, but he quickly set about limiting the damage with an unbeaten 83. Langer had dropped Tim Paine on 199, with the ball racing through his fingers to the boundary to bring up Paine's double-century.

Paine, playing his fifth first-class game, resumed on 119 and again took advantage of a placid pitch by turning his maiden first-class century into an impressive 215, with 27 fours and two sixes. The score was the highest by a Tasmanian against Western Australia, beating Ricky Ponting's 211 in 1994-95, and Paine was well supported by George Bailey (55) and Daniel Marsh (54) as they piled on 7 for 553 declared. Despite the Tigers' dominance, there were some good signs for the Warriors as the left-arm orthodox spinner Aaron Heal earned career-best figures of 5 for 103, including three stumpings to Luke Ronchi.

The home side's reply got off to a shaky start, with the opener Chris Rogers caught behind on the last ball before tea for 7. After the break Langer re-started the recovery by racing towards a century - his innings lasted 113 balls and contained 17 fours - and he combined for a valuable stand of 111 with Shaun Marsh, who was 39 not out. The first day-three target of Western Australia, who finished at 1 for 133, will be the 271 runs required to avoid the follow-on.