Whiteman, Bancroft ton up to escape Tigers trap

Former Test batter Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman joined the growing list of run-making openers as Western Australia dug deep to avoid defeat in their Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

At stumps on day three WA were 0-232, a lead of 102 runs over the Tigers with Australia's national selector Trevor Hohns on site to eye the performances at Gladys Elphick Park, and the adjacent NSW-Queensland game at Karen Rolton Oval.

Bancroft (103) and Whiteman (117) remained not out at Gladys Elphick Park in a partnership that was still completely dwarfed by the Will Pucovski-Marcus Harris record-breaking 486 for Victoria.

With David Warner a lock for one Test opening position and incumbent Joe Burns yet to fire for Queensland this season, Bancroft was keen to show his wares and again looked solid after previous innings of 23, 46 and 71 for WA.

It was Bancroft's first Shield century since February 2019, although he struck two more while captain of Durham in England's County Championship before last year's Ashes. He played the opening two Tests of that memorable series before he was jettisoned for Victorian Harris.

Bancroft struck 10 fours in his 220-ball effort while Whiteman moved a little more briskly, crunching 13 boundaries in his 188-ball dig.

"It was really good to put the feet up and watch them go to work, particularly after a tough day in the dirt earlier on," WA right-armer Lance Morris, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in just his second first-class match, said.

"It gives us a few options hopefully later tomorrow."

Whiteman hit 114 against NSW in the previous round.

Earlier on Sunday, the match looked to be getting away from WA when Tasmania added 135 for the last three wickets to post a 130-run lead.

Ben McDermott (90) missed his century, slashing at Lance Morris (5-94), and Beau Webster (14) departed shortly thereafter to leave the Tigers at 7-297, still five runs adrift of WA's first innings total.

But a handy 41 from No.9 Nathan Ellis and a whirlwind 39 from Jackson Bird helped propel the Tigers to a three-figure lead.

Former Test paceman Bird launched a late batting blitz at No.11, clubbing his runs off just 19 balls including three sixes in one Aaron Hardie (2-79) over.

Veteran quick Peter Siddle remained 29 not out.

WA XI: Cameron Bancroft, Sam Whiteman, Shaun Marsh (c), Cameron Green, D'Arcy Short, Ashton Agar, Josh Inglis (wk), Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kelly, Cameron Gannon, Lance Morris.

Tasmania XI: Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim, Matthew Wade (c), Ben McDermott, Jake Doran, Tim Paine (wk), Beau Webster, Tom Andrews, Nathan Ellis, Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird