Pattinson enjoyed a fruitful comeback into Shield cricket © Getty

New South Wales v Victoria

James Pattinson completed a memorable comeback into domestic colours with a five-wicket haul as Victoria secured a place in the final of this season's Sheffield Shield after beating New South Wales (NSW) by 63 runs. Returning from a back injury which wrecked his season, Pattinson did his claims for a berth in the England-bound Ashes squad no harm with a sensational burst, which left NSW reeling at 54 for 9, chasing 166 for victory. The tall pacer was supported well by another Australian Test aspirant, Peter Siddle, as the hosts were eventually bundled out for 102 - despite a valiant 48-run stand for the last wicket between Peter Neville (26*) and Steve O'Keefe (25).

Siddle set the tone for Victoria's win by dismissing the first-innings top-scorer Daniel Hughes for a duck in the first over. Pattinson then took over, removing Nick Larkin, Kurtis Patterson and Moises Henriques to leave NSW gasping at 21 for 4. There was no coming back from that position and eventually, the second-placed NSW crashed to 102. Earlier, Victoria stretched their overnight score of 159 for 7 to 194, with Harry Conway taking four wickets.

Brief Scores: Victoria 106 (Nic Maddinson 24, Harry Conway 5/14, Trent Copeland 3/50) and 194 (Matthew Short 50, Harry Conway 4/50) beat NSW 135 (Daniel Hughes 45, Jon Holland 5/31, Peter Siddle 3/35) and 102 (Peter Neville 26*, James Pattinson 5/25, Peter Siddle 3/34) by 63 runs.

Tasmania v Western Australia

Tasmania fought hard, but it is Western Australia who have held on to all the aces going into the final day of their Sheffield Shield clash at the Blundstone Arena, Hobart. Needing 454 for an improbable victory, the hosts reached 54 for no loss when stumps were called on the penultimate day. Resuming at their overnight score of 2 for no loss, the visitors rode on the brilliance of Sam Whiteman (93) and D'Arcy Short (61), as they declared their innings at 283 for 8. With three wickets in his kitty, Gabe Bell was Tasmania's most successful bowler.

Brief Scores: Western Australia 367 and 283/8 dec (Sam Whiteman 93, Darcy Short 61, Gabe Bell 3/72) lead Tasmania 197 and 54/0 (Jordan Silk 20*, Alex Doolan 20*) by 400 runs