In the sort of arm-wrestle that befitted a battle between finals aspirants, Tasmania and Western Australia played out a fluctuating opening day of their Pura Cup clash in Hobart today. The Tigers, led by doughty contributions from a series of middle order players and fast bowler Damien Wright, did well to scramble to a mark of 8/306 by stumps.

Tasmania lost the toss, and Western Australia lost its way at times with the new ball, but both sides offered much in the way of entertainment through the six hours that followed. Admirably, neither team was defensively-minded on a day that featured sunshine, quick scoring, and an excellent over rate.

Invited to bat first, the Tigers looked in trouble on an occasionally lively pitch as they lost the wickets of each of their openers inside the first hour. Jamie Cox (4) succumbed as he lunged well forward to pad up at Jo Angel (3/67) and Scott Mason (26) was adjudged to be caught at short leg off the same bowler from a deflection that looked suspiciously like it had been orchestrated by thigh pad rather than bat.

Yet Tasmania, having added to a run of misfortune that has yielded victories at the toss just three of 14 times this summer, swiftly wrested back control in the form of a 110-run liaison between Michael Dighton (65) and Shane Watson (49).

Dighton, the ex-Western Australian who has been a notoriously uncertain starter at times for his adopted team this season, assembled an attractive innings. His driving was assured, and his confidence appeared to swell with each of his 13 sweetly timed boundaries. Watson cut with uncertainty on occasions but emphasised his undeniable talent with some equally impressive driving through mid off and the covers.

With the bowling of Matthew Nicholson (0/59) rarely ascending above the status of erratic - and with workmen at the northern end of the ground interrupting the peace by engaging in the art of pile-driving - headaches were beginning to emerge for the Warriors.

To nip Tasmania's blossoming revival in the bud, they needed to wait for wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell to pounce on the remnants of a sedate leg side push and brilliantly throw down the stumps as Dighton unsuccessfully sought sanctuary at the non-striker's end.

Watson, clearly disconcerted by his partner's demise, promptly drove lavishly at an outswinger of perfect length from Michael Clark (2/57), outside edged and was caught behind.

When Daniel Marsh (14) played across the line of a straight delivery from medium pacer Kade Harvey (1/45), the Tasmanians had slumped to 5/187.

Another recovery was mounted - in the form of a 57-run union between Scott Kremerskothen (55) and Sean Clingeleffer (22) for the sixth wicket - before the latter, stretching a long way forward to defend at the part-time spin of Simon Katich (1/9), lost his wicket to an lbw decision. It was a verdict that left the young Tasmanian - like Mason before him - visibly unimpressed.

The ever-reliable Angel, who was easily the pick of the Warriors' bowlers, struck another vital blow when he encouraged Kremerskothen to drive uppishly to mid off. David Saker (4), a batting hero last week, then lost his leg stump as he tried to glance at rangy left arm paceman Clark.

Wright (52*), who played the odd streaky stroke through the slips initially, then capitalised on his success in surviving against the second new ball. Several powerful blows down the ground featured on the path to his third half-century of the season. With Shannon Tubb (5*), he carried Tasmania to relative safety by stumps.

© 2002 CricInfo Ltd