Whiteman bats all day to put WA in control in Hobart

West Australian skipper Sam Whiteman has notched a valuable Marsh Sheffield Shield century against Tasmania as his side reached 6-350 at stumps on day one in Hobart.

Whiteman, who was recalled following a bout of concussion and given the captaincy after Shaun Marsh suffered a calf injury against Queensland last week, essentially batted the day to finish unbeaten on 151.

The 29-year-old came to crease in the second over and dug his side out of trouble with a 105-run stand with Josh Philippe (53) for the fifth wicket.

After grafting to 37 at lunch, Whiteman lifted the tempo late in the day with D'Arcy Short (67 off 74 balls), who teed off with several blistering cover drives.

Whiteman, who played for Australia A seven years ago, survived a missed stumping chance in the 90s before posting his eighth first-class century.

"The patience he had all day (stood out). Even when he got to 100 he was leaving balls and still sticking to his game plan," Short said of Whiteman.

"It was a magnificent knock to bat the whole day, especially on that wicket."

Short, who calls Blundstone Arena home for the Hobart Hurricanes in the KFC BBL, passed his previous first-class best of 66 before falling to a juggling caught-and-bowled from the innocuous part-time medium pace of Jordan Silk.

Lawrence Neil-Smith (3-66) was the pick of Tasmania's bowlers and got rid of Australian Test allrounder Cameron Green (15) and Hilton Cartwright for a duck in quick succession in the morning session.

Fellow paceman Gabe Bell (2-61) did the damage early after the Tigers won the toss, removing former Test opener Cameron Bancroft (1) and youngster Jayden Goodwin (4) in an impressive new-ball spell.

It left the visitors teetering at 4-47 before Whiteman combined with Philippe, Short and Jhye Richardson for crucial partnerships that helped navigate WA out of trouble.

WA quick Richardson, who is pushing hard for an Ashes berth, whacked an unbeaten 43 from 41 balls in the hour before stumps.

Bradley Hope, a 22-year-old allrounder originally from WA, made his debut for the Tigers, while middle-order batter Silk is captaining the side in the absence of injured Beau Webster.

WA have two wins from their four matches and sit atop the Shield ladder, while Tasmania are fourth with one win.