Tasmania's cricket renaissance continued today as Western Australia's powerful batting line-up was destroyed twice in their Pura Cup clash in Hobart.

At stumps on the second day, WA was 7-117 in its second innings, still 103 runs behind Tasmania's first innings of 347.

The Warriors were forced to follow on after being dismissed for 137 in the first innings and batted even more miserably in the second.

Only rain, which was forecast, can stop the Tigers claiming their first four-day win over the Warriors at Bellerive Oval.

The Tigers, following their two-day demolition of Queensland in their last match, again bowled a disciplined line and length on a wicket which had variable bounce but was no minefield.

Western Australia self-destructed, notably with two stupid run outs in the middle of the first innings.

The Tasmanian cause was also helped by lbw decisions going their way.

However, if umpires John Smeaton and Ken McGinness have been finger happy, they've been consistently so.

There have been nine lbw decisions given in the match so far and a couple on the first day left the Tasmanians aggrieved.

Tiger tailenders Damien Wright and Shannon Tubb started the day by continuing to frustrate the Warrior bowlers.

Wright finished with 63, his highest first class score, and Tubb 33.

The Warriors lost captain and Test opener Justin Langer before lunch but afterwards looked in control as Michael Hussey and Simon Katich put on 53 runs, missing occasionally but also producing some handsome drives.

But once Hussey went for 33, it all went wrong.

Another five wickets fell before tea and the last three shortly afterwards.

Katich, who came into the match with a Bellerive Oval average of 122.5, stood alone in the mounting rubble, hitting 13 fours and a six before being second last out for 68.

Most of the damage was done by pacemen David Saker (3-48), Shane Jurgensen (1-16) and Wright (2-35), with the 11-wicket destroyer of Queensland, Shane Watson, scarcely used.

Spinner Tubb helped clean up the tail, taking a wicket with his second ball and finishing with 2-6.

WA's second innings started even more disastrously, with Langer, Hussey and Katich all going lbw in the first 20 minutes.

Murray Goodwin hit an aggressive 37, including a remarkable six over the third man boundary off Watson, and Scott Meuleman clung on for 92 minutes in making 12.

Otherwise it was a sorry procession.

However, Jo Angel and Matthew Nicholson showed up their batting betters.

They were together at 7-83 at the end of the normal day's play, then saw out the extra half hour claimed by Tasmania to try to force a result.

© 2002 AAP