Shield final evenly poised after Sutherland’s five-for

Victoria have fought their way back into the Marsh Sheffield Shield final thanks to a sensational spell of fast bowling from young quick Will Sutherland and a solid start by their top order.

The visitors went to stumps on day two 3-147 at the WACA, still 239 runs in arrears of Western Australia, but they could have been further behind had it not been for Sutherland and returning Test squad member Scott Boland.

After being sent in by Victoria on Thursday, WA completely controlled the opening day of this season's decider, going to stumps 3-290 with Cameron Bancroft peeling off his 19th first-class century.

But the hosts collapsed during the first hour on Friday in more favourable bowling conditions under overcast skies as Sutherland ripped through the hosts middle-order with 3-8 in seven overs as WA were bowled out for 386 before lunch.

Openers Will Pucovski and Travis Dean then consolidated the Victorian fightback with 75-run opening stand, batting through the entire middle session without losing a wicket.

Sutherland struck in the second over of day two when nightwatchman Matt Kelly (4) edged to Handscomb at slip, before adding the wicket of 17-year-old second gamer Teague Wyllie (4) in his next over, who was also caught in the slips by Matt Short.

Josh Philippe (2) became the right-armer's next victim (also caught Short, bowled Sutherland) while Boland chimed in with the crucial wicket of centurion Cameron Bancroft (141), who only added six to his overnight score before he feathered one down the leg-side to wicketkeeper Sam Harper.

Combined with Sutherland's wicket of Hilton Cartwright (41) on the penultimate ball of day one, Western Australia lost 5-20 in the space of 11.3 overs.

Aaron Hardie was next to go, caught behind off Mitch Perry, and despite tailender Joel Paris (16) launching the 21-year-old over square leg for six, he became Boland's (3-80) third victim shortly after as WA slipped to 9-344.

But a blistering cameo by off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli – who whacked 50 off just 28 balls in the extended half hour before lunch included four boundaries and two towering sixes – seized back some momentum for the hosts heading into the break.

The 24-year-old eclipsed his highest first-class score of one by 49 runs and said the last time he made a fifty was four and a half years ago in second grade cricket.

"I've surprised myself, I've surprised all the boys up there but I'm just really happy to contribute to the team and to get us to 380, that's what I was really proud about," he said after play.

It took Sutherland (5-78) returning for a second spell to break the crucial 44-run 10th wicket stand as he claimed his third first-class five-wicket haul.

The 22-year-old told cricket.com.au after stumps he found a little more rhythm on day two, as opposed to the opening day, which was quite windy.

"There was a bit less breeze today, so I was able to settle in and find a bit of rhythm, bowling to right-handers for an extended period of time was also nice," he said.

"I think we'll just be trying to bat as big as possible (on day three), get close to their score and hopefully bat further. I'll just be watching the ball and trying to get some runs."

With his two catches in the first innings, Peter Handscomb broke the record for the most catches in a Sheffield Shield season with 25, a feat that goes alongside his record for the most in a single match in the 120-year history of the competition when he took nine against Tasmania last month.

Pucovski, in just his third game this season after returning from concussion in the final round of the regular season, looked in exquisite touch with two beautiful on-drives off Kelly and Hardie (2-35) as Victoria went to tea 0-53.

Dean (28), who was named the Player of the Tournament alongside South Australia opener Henry Hunt on Wednesday, took a little longer to find his groove and was given a life on 13 when he was dropped by Bancroft at second slip trying to drive a fullish delivery back down the ground.

He only managed to add 15 more, however, which is when 17-year-old second-gamer Teague Wyllie brought back memories of David Boon at short leg with a spectacular catch diving forward that Dean had inside-edged onto his pad.

Pucovski moved to his eighth first-class half century and weathered a period of short-pitched bowling from Lance Morris, but just as he looked like he had settled in for a sustained innings on a ground where he has made one of his three Sheffield Shield double centuries, he inside edged a fullish delivery from Paris (1-35) through to Philippe and was out for 59.

The home side were buoyed by the wicket of Short (10) just before stumps, with Victoria captain Handscomb (39 not out) and nightwatchman Perry (10 not out) negotiating the final few overs before stumps to have the decider evenly poised after the opening two days.

Victoria need to score more than Western Australia's 307 runs in the first 100 overs of their first innings and lose six wickets or less to ensure they score more bonus points than WA should the five-day final end in a draw.

They would need to score 10 more runs inside the first 100 overs for every wicket they lose more than six to stay ahead. The team with the most first innings bonus points is crowned champions if the match ends in a stalemate.

Western Australia is hosting the Sheffield Shield final for the first time since 1997-98 and are trying to win their first title since 1998-99, while Victoria is looking to win their fifth Shield title in the past eight seasons having drawn with WA in 2014-15 to be crowned champions.

The Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports, as well as streamed free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app