Vics rally to snare first-innings lead in Shield final

Roger Vaughan |

Victoria’s Fergus O’Neill salutes the crowd after reaching his half-century in the Shield final.
Victoria’s Fergus O’Neill salutes the crowd after reaching his half-century in the Shield final.

Fergus O’Neill and captain Will Sutherland have led Victoria’s recovery and wrested the momentum from SA in the Sheffield Shield final.

The home side was dismissed for 261 at tea on day three, a first-innings lead of 63.

O’Neill top-scored with an unbeaten 64 from 134 balls, featuring seven fours – his fourth first-class 50.

After play was delayed by more than a hour on Saturday morning at Junction Oval because of more rain, Victoria resumed after lunch on 5-150.

Marcus Harris did not add to his score before he feathered an edge off Liam Scott and was caught behind for 40 from 133 deliveries.

Victoria's Marcus Harris
Victoria’s Marcus Harris was dismissed after lunch for 40. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

That left Victoria on the brink at 6-157 in reply to SA’s 198.

But O’Neill and Sutherland batted Victoria out of trouble with a 55-run stand that could prove the turning point of the game.

After missing out on a batting bonus point by three runs, SA now must beat top side Victoria to win back-to-back Shield titles for the first time.

Despite persistent rain over the first three days, the five-day fixture and low scoring mean the game is unlikely to end in a draw.

By early afternoon, the weather had cleared and no more interruptions are expected for the rest of Saturday’s play.

Sutherland, who took four wickets in SA’s first innings, scored 34 from 57 balls. The Victorian skipper gave them the lead with a pull shot for six off Jordan Buckingham.

South Australia paceman Henry Thornton
South Australia paceman Henry Thornton kept the Victoria batters on their toes. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

Henry Thornton ended Sutherland’s crucial knock when another attempted pull shot was mistimed and the ball was bottom-edged into his stumps.

One wicket fell in the shortened morning session. Bowling around the wicket and wide of the stumps, Nathan McAndrew dismissed Oliver Peake for 28 with a superb delivery that hit the top of off stump.

McAndrew took 3-71 and Thornton claimed 3-58.

AAP