Victoria's lower-order secure two-wicket win to put Shield final in sight

Victoria have one foot in the Sheffield Shield final after a tense and potentially pivotal two-wicket win over Tasmania in Melbourne.

A see-sawing final day at Junction Oval ended in Victoria's favour thanks to a 47-run unbeaten tail-end partnership between 21-year-old Mitchell Perry and second-game rookie Todd Murphy.

The pair displayed maturity beyond their years to bat for an hour and get the home side over the line with 8.2 overs to spare.

Perry ended on 32 not out - three short of his highest first-class score in 14 matches - while Murphy hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 24.

With both teams seeking to become the only state with three wins, the result pushes Victoria top of the standings going into next week's final round.

Earlier, Victoria had seemed well in control in pursuit of 231 to win from 82 overs. Travis Dean piled on a boundary-laden 47 at just over a run a ball as Victoria quickly reached 74 for the first wicket.

However, a middle-order collapse - they lost 5 for 40 - changed the momentum completely. Tom Andrews picked up the key wickets of Nic Maddinson and wicketkeeper Sam Harper, while debutant fellow spinner Ben Manenti returned 3 for 89.

Earlier, Tasmania advanced from their overnight 7 for 170 to be all out for 209 as Perry finished with 4 for 31. Peter Handscomb claimed nine catches for the match, the second most by an outfielder in first-class history, his last a fantastic diving take at midwicket.

Tasmania can still reach the season decider with victory at home against Queensland, while Victoria will shore up hosting rights if they win in Perth.