Agar ton puts Warriors on top

A flashy century from Warriors all-rounder Ashton Agar and some horror fielding from Tasmania have put Western Australia in the box seat to win the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.

Tasmania will enter the final day at 5-184 in their second innings - an overall lead of 30 runs - with James Faulkner on 31 and Tom Triffitt on 13.

Agar was the man of the moment on Tuesday, thrashing 106 from 128 balls to help lift the Warriors to 415 in reply to Tasmania's first-innings dig of 261.

It was his second Shield ton of the summer following his 105 against Tasmania in Hobart in October.

But the Tigers only had themselves to blame for the sizeable first-innings deficit.

Agar was dropped on four, 84, and 106 - with wicketkeeper Triffitt responsible for two of those.

Triffitt also grassed two other catches in a horror display behind the stumps.

Michael Klinger (66), Ashton Turner (49), Sam Whiteman (44), and Cameron Bancroft (43) posted handy runs for WA, while tail-enders Joel Paris (27) and David Moody (22) further frustrated the Tigers.

WATCH: Day three highlights from the WACA Ground

Staring down a first-innings deficit of 154, Tasmania needed to make a bright start to their second dig.

Instead, Jordan Silk was caught behind first ball off the bowling of Joel Paris (2-18), before Beau Webster (25) was trapped lbw by Michael Hogan.

Ben Dunk steadied the ship with a resistant knock of 75, but his dismissal during the final session on Tuesday left Tasmania facing an uphill battle to save the match.

Triffitt top-scored with 66 in Tasmania's first innings.

But the 25-year-old will need to produce a mammoth total in the second dig in order to save face for his error-riddled keeping display.

One of the catches Triffitt dropped was a dolly, with WA making Tasmania pay for the host of missed chances.

Triffitt feared his Shield career was over two years ago after he was axed by WA for an alcohol-fuelled misdemeanour.

But a promising return to domestic ranks last summer via the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League sparked fresh life into his career, with the Tigers then handing him a Shield lifeline earlier this year.

"I'm quite proud to make my way back in," Triffitt said.

"I didn't think when everything happened in Perth that I would play Shield cricket again.

"Being back home (in Tasmania) around family and friends has been good. I'm really enjoying my cricket again."

WA paceman Simon Mackin was forced from the field because of hamstring tightness during the final session, but he's expected to be fit to bowl on Wednesday.

Agar said it was crucial for the Warriors to snare some early wickets on the final day.

"We need to be really clinical tomorrow morning," Agar said.

"A couple of really early wickets would be nice.

"Their tail are pretty good fighters as well. If we can restrict them, we're right in the game."

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