Tasmania opener Mark Cosgrove slashed a quick-fire 71 but veteran paceman Michael Hogan ensured the opening-day honours belonged to Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.

The Tigers were cruising at 1-104 on the back of Cosgrove’s 90-ball knock, but Hogan claimed 4-55 to dismiss Tasmania for 248 on Wednesday.

WA will resume at 1-59 on Thursday, with opener Marcus North on 39 and nightwatchman Michael Beer on two.

Tigers spinner Xavier Doherty claimed a crucial breakthrough just before stumps when he trapped Cameron Bancroft lbw for 17.

WA cricket is on a high following last week’s Big Bash League title triumph by the Perth Scorchers.

Hogan, who claimed the wickets of Cosgrove, Ed Cowan (16), George Bailey (9) and Ben Dunk (2), said the title win had breathed an extra level of excitement into the WACA.

“There’s a sense of belief around the change rooms at the moment,” Hogan said.

“We knew we were going to be a bit rusty first session with a lot of the boys getting back from T20 cricket.

“But we strung a few maidens together and managed to pick up a few wickets.”

Cosgrove copped two painful blows to his hands during his knock, but overcame the setbacks to crack 14 boundaries.

However, his dismissal sparked a collapse of 4-41 as Hogan weaved his magic.

At 6-178, Tasmania were struggling.

But Luke Butterworth, who was dropped on 20 by Marcus North at gully, made the Warriors pay for the missed chance by combining with Ben Hilfenhaus for a 61-run stand that lifted Tasmania to a defendable total.

The match shapes as a key contest in the race for a top-two berth.

WA sits third on the table, but are just four points adrift of second-placed NSW behind ladder leaders South Australia (22 points).

The fifth-placed Tigers (10 points) are eight points behind the Blues, but an outright win would put them right back into the thick of the finals race.