Bevan and Marsh lead Tasmania's charge

Tasmania 3 for 301 (Bevan 161*, Marsh 113*) v Western Australia
Scorecard

Michael Bevan scored an excellent century to bail Tasmania out © Getty Images

An outstanding 278-run stand between Michael Bevan and Daniel Marsh helped Tasmania recover from early setbacks and finish the first day of their Pura Cup match against Western Australia well in command. After being put in to bat at Hobart, Tasmania slumped to 3 for 23 before Bevan and Marsh came together. When rain caused play to be curtailed 18 overs early, they were still undefeated, with Bevan on 161 and Marsh on 113.

Their partnership was a new fourth-wicket record for Tasmania, obliterating the 258 of Danny Buckingham and Michael Taylor in 1987-88. Marsh's century, which came off 147 balls and included 17 fours, was his first since December 2003, and finally ended a poor run with the bat this season.

"I've been pretty disappointed that I haven't been able to help the team out and get some runs," Marsh said afterwards. "I've been working really hard in the nets and I think mentally the hard work's going to pay off. I probably just made some better decisions and had a bit of luck today."

Western Australia are currently third in the Pura Cup table, and their excellent start would have given them hope of sneaking a place in the final - but Bevan and Marsh ensured that, by the end of the day, the Warriors were staring at a huge first-innings total. "There was some brilliant batting in the end, but we allowed them to get into form," said Wayne Clark, the coach. "We bowled Dan Marsh into form early, and from then on he batted as dangerously as we know he can, and unfortunately we're the ones he's taken it out on."