It took just seven overs for Western Australia to steal the momentum away from Tasmania during the second session of their Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground on Friday.

The Warriors took 4-17 in that time to leave the Tigers at 6-218 in their second innings at tea on day three to hold an overall lead of 187 runs.

Luke Butterworth (4) and Ben Hilfenhaus (1) are the not out batsmen at the break.

Earlier, the Tigers had progressed steadily, albeit slowly, in the first session-and-a-half and looked in good shape with a lead of 169 runs, eight wickets in hand and a day-and-a-half still to play.

But that all changed in the space of 30 minutes.

Spinner Marcus North forced a top edge from Ed Cowan to have him caught by Ryan Duffield at backward point when he was 59.

It was the first Tiger wicket to fall for the day in the Warriors’ 48th over of the day.

Michael Hogan has been the best of the WA bowlers in the absence of Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was forced from the field due to a hamstring strain.

But it was Mitch Marsh who turned the momentum of the game back in favour of WA in just two overs.

He had George Bailey (83) caught behind by Sam Whiteman three balls after Cowan’s dismissal while the score was still on 200.

Cowan and Bailey had batted patiently, sharing in a 122-run partnership.

Marsh then had Tim Paine caught at first slip by Adam Voges for four in his next over.

Duffield capped off a terrific session for WA when he produced the fourth wicket for WA, also having Ben Dunk caught behind for just nine.