WA v Tasmania: Warriors in command despite century by Ed Cowan at WACA Ed Cowan celebrates after reaching his century at the WACA. ED Cowan compiled a century but his dismissal signalled a Tasmanian batting collapse to leave Western Australia on the brink of an outright Sheffield Shield win at the WACA. Western Australia requires 103 runs for victory, going to stumps at 1-2 on day three after Tasmania was dismissed for 242 in their second innings. Former Test opener Cowan scored his 18th first-class century but when he fell on 100 it sparked a Western Australian collapse as they lost eight wickets for 69. The Warriors celebrates after taking the wicket of Tim Paine. Despite looking so fluent at the crease, Cowan couldn't help but be frustrated with his dismissal that sparked Tasmania's free fall. "I was thinking big score in beautiful batting conditions, and I was in and set so it was a meek dismissal off the face of the bat when I could have hit it anywhere," Cowan said. It was very disappointing and my dismissal has caused us going from a position of strength to one we are going to have to take everything that comes our way. WA faced two overs to be 1-2 at stumps after first innings centurion Cameron Bancroft (1) was caught behind off Sam Rainbird. Marcus Harris and nightwatchman Jason Behrendorff are not out without scoring. Cameron Bancroft of the Warriors fields close to the wicket during day three. WA started the third day at 7-317 and added 36 to finish with a first innings lead of 138. Andrew Fekete claimed 5-80 and Rainbird 4-83. Tasmania started well with a 74-run opening stand between Cowan and Jordan Silk (24). Captain George Bailey made just 11 before miscuing an attempted hook off Nathan Coulter-Nile before Cowan and Wells (43) gave Tasmania a sniff in a 66-run stand. Cowan brought up his century in a knock that lasted 166 balls and included 17 boundaries but the very next delivery he was caught at short leg by Bancroft off Ashton Agar. Coulter-Nile took 3-34 for WA with Nathan Rimmington, Hogan and Agar all claiming two wickets each. Originally published as WA on top despite Cowan century