WA make strong start against Tigers

Youngster Josh Philippe has struck a valuable half century to give Western Australia the upper hand in their crucial JLT Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

The Warriors are 7-334 at stumps on day one after being sent in to bat on a green-tinged Bellerive Oval pitch in Hobart.

Philippe top scored with 76 and struck 12 fours in his second half century in as many innings.

The 21-year-old was bowled by former Test quick Jackson Bird late in the day with the second new ball.

Bird was the pick of the Tigers' four-man pace attack with 3-56, while Riley Meredith and Gabe Bell chipped in with two wickets each.

Big Bash League blaster D'Arcy Short smacked 49 from 52 balls on his home turf for the Hobart Hurricanes but slashed at one too many in the third session, edging Bell to gully.

The Tigers and WA, placed third and fourth respectively with two rounds to play, are gunning for a win to keep their chances of a Shield final berth alive.

The Warriors lost big guns Cameron Bancroft (27) and former Test all-rounder Mitch Marsh for six as they reached 3-91 at lunch.

Hilton Cartwright (66) and opener Sam Whiteman (55) steadied the ship with half centuries.

Tigers' debutant Sean Willis was in the game in the first session, pulling off a diving catch at third slip to remove Josh Inglis for a duck.

Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly survived until the close of play.

Tasmania: Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, Charlie Wakim, Matthew Wade (c), Sean Willis, Ben McDermott, Tim Paine, Alex Pyecroft, Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell, Riley Meredith

WA: Cameron Bancroft, Sam Whiteman, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh (c), Hilton Cartwright, Josh Philippe, D'Arcy Short, Joel Paris, Matthew Kelly, Liam Guthrie, David Moody