Wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt top-scored for Tasmania before dropping a crucial catch in his side's Sheffield Shield showdown with Western Australia at the WACA Ground.
At stumps on day two, WA were 6-265 in reply to Tasmania's 261, with Joel Paris and Ashton Agar both unbeaten on 20.
Triffitt, whose stint at the Warriors came to an abrupt end two years ago following an alcohol-fuelled misdemeanour, made an important 66 for the Tigers to help them reach a competitive total in seam-friendly conditions.
Tigers paceman Jackson Bird then struck two early blows to leave WA in all sorts of trouble at 2-14.
And it should have been 3-35 when opener Cameron Bancroft edged James Faulkner to first slip, only for Triffitt to spill the tough chance after he decided to go for the catch.
Bancroft was on just 12 at the time, and the reprieve allowed him to combine with Michael Klinger for a crucial 108-run stand.
The 23-year-old Test hopeful eventually fell for 43 from 163 balls when he was caught and bowled by Andrew Fekete.
But by then the damage had already been done, with Bancroft's ability to soak up bulk time at the crease proving crucial in protecting WA's inexperienced middle order.
Ashton Turner (49) and Sam Whiteman (44) both made crucial runs once Bancroft departed, with WA holding a lead of four.
Earlier, Triffitt added 11 runs to his overnight score before he was bowled by Joel Paris.
Veteran paceman Michael Hogan was the best of the bowlers with 4-48, while Paris and David Moody chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Triffitt was sacked by the Warriors in January, 2014 after an alcohol-fuelled brush with the law during a Futures League match.
The 25-year-old was charged with one count of wilful damage and two counts of stealing at the time, but the charges were subsequently dropped, and Triffitt has since turned his life around.
"It was a tough chance, but I would have liked to have taken it," Triffitt said of the dropped catch.
"The game's around about evenly poised.
"We created enough opportunities where we could have bowled them out today. Unfortunately we didn't take all of those.
"But in saying that, I think tomorrow if we come out and bowl like we did today and keep creating those opportunities - and aim to knock them over for under 300 - we're right back in the game."
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