Victoria head into the Sheffield Shield final boosted by some late-season form from two experienced Test fast bowlers in James Pattinson and Peter Siddle.
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The Vics eased into their fourth Shield decider in five seasons with a match to spare by defeating New South Wales by 63 runs on Thursday - a relatively comfortable margin in a low-scoring contest.
The Blues could only manage 102 - having been 9-54 - in pursuit of 166 for victory on day three at Drummoyne Oval.
Second-placed NSW will again be the Vics opponents in the final later this month, provided they can defeat Tasmania in next week's final round.
Pattinson made the most of his return to the Vics line-up for the first time since December following an injury-hit BBL campaign.
The 17-Test paceman thrived with the Dukes ball in humid cloudy conditions, ripping through the NSW top-order to end with figures of 5-25.
Siddle was back to his usual reliable self returning 3-34 to go with his first innings' 3-35, after carrying the drinks in the previous round.
Siddle and Pattinson have endured modest Shield seasons prior to this match, taking 12 and 9 wickets respectively in four outings.
It leaves Victorian selectors with a happy conundrum with Scott Boland, Chris Tremain and Andrew Fekete all vying for selection.
"At the moment I feel good with just small niggles which is alright because I'm used to having big ones," said Pattinson.
"When games are on the line and you have to go out there, I think that is when I play my best cricket."
Such was Victoria's dominance, NSW were at one stage looking at their lowest ever Shield total of 53 after being reduced to 5-24.
Jack Edwards (12), Peter Nevill (26no) and Steve O'Keefe (25) were the only Blues' batsman to reach double figures, with the latter pair putting on a final-wicket partnership of 48.
After 27 wickets fell on the opening two days, Victoria resumed on day three at 7-159, and added a further 35 runs.
NSW will take some positives out of the match with rangy fast bowler Harry Conway earning player of the match honours after collecting career-best match figures of 9-64.
"Our batting in the final innings probably takes away from a lot of really good stuff we did in the game," said NSW captain Peter Nevill.
On the debit side, spinner Steve O'Keefe suffered a hamstring injury which may rule him out of Wednesday's trip to Hobart, although quick Sean Abbott is expected to return.
Australian Associated Press
