Victoria will head into the Sheffield Shield final boasting the competition's highest run-scorer after newly minted Test opener Marcus Harris helped the runaway leaders to a final-round victory over South Australia.
Harris's 65 helped the Vics to a seven-wicket win with his innings enough to narrowly eclipse Tasmania's Matthew Wade at the top of the competition's run aggregate.
Wade also made 65 as Tasmania ended their campaign with a 149-run defeat against NSW as the Blues shored up their spot in the Shield decider at Melbourne's Junction Oval.
Harris, who debuted for Australia three months ago against India, has so far netted 1024 runs at 68.26 and will have a chance to extend that tally against NSW.
The Perth-born 26-year-old has enjoyed three fruitful seasons since making the move to Melbourne in 2016.
His current campaign included two centuries, six half-centuries and a best of 250 not out against NSW in October.
Wade scored 1021 runs at 60.05 to bolster his chances of a Test recall for the upcoming Ashes series.
The next best among those featuring in the final is NSW opener Daniel Hughes with 699 runs.
There was some good news for Tasmania, however, with paceman Jackson Bird ending the regular season atop the wicket-taking list with 50 scalps, although Victoria's Scott Boland (45 wickets) and the Blues' Trent Copeland (44) are still within striking distance.
Remarkably both Harris and Wade passed the 1000-run mark within half an hour of each over on Saturday.
Only once in the past 10 seasons has the feat been achieved by two batsman - WA's Adam Voges and Michael Klinger in 2014-15.
Victoria head into the Shield decider facing a positive selection dilemma with five fast bowlers all vying for a spot in the starting XI, alongside spinner Jon Holland.
The selectors will, however, be forced to find a replacement for Nic Maddinson after the in-form batsman underwent surgery this week for a broken thumb while fielding on day one in Adelaide.
Victoria earned a hard-fought 63-run over NSW just a fortnight ago in a low-scoring contest in Sydney, having defeated the Blues by an innings at the start of the season.
Victoria will be chasing a fourth Shield win in five seasons when the season decider gets underway next Thursday, while NSW are seeking their first title since 2013-14.
Australian Associated Press
