Western Australia are locked in a battle over first innings points with Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground with Marcus North out before tea on day two.

North was looking like the man to guide WA to the first innings points as he continued his remarkable summer with the bat for the home side, but when he was out for a well-made 87 midway through the afternoon session the game suddenly evened up.

Mitch Marsh was then also out for 30 with WA now 6-198 at tea still needing a further 51 runs for first innings points with Sam Whiteman not out on 12 and Ashton Turner on nine.

The 34-year-old Test batsman North started the Shield season for WA scintillating fashion with three centuries in the first five matches, and now he has 680 runs in nine innings at an average of over 97.

WA began the second day in a commanding position at 1-59 in reply to Tasmania’s 248 but nightwatchman Beer lasted just five deliveries before being clean bowled by Luke Butterworth for two.

Marcus Harris and North then combined for a solid 33-run partnership for the third wicket before Harris was out top-edging an attempted pull short off Andrew Fekete.

WA were then 3-93 and 4-127 just before lunch when captain Adam Voges was caught at second slip by Butterworth off Ben Hilfenhaus for 18.

North and Marsh remained together after lunch and looked capable of getting WA close to their target before North fell afoul of a poor shot to a short ball from Hilfenhaus and hit it straight down fine leg’s throat to end his knock on 87.

Marsh then didn’t last much longer caught at slip to a lazy defensive shot off left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty. He was out for 30 leaving WA 6-188 and now 6-198 at tea in reply to Tasmania’s 248.

Doherty and Hilfenhaus have two wickets apiece for the Tigers and have bowled well.