South Australia 198 & 94 for 5 (Sangha 34, Carey 24*) lead Victoria 261 (O’Neill 64*, Thornton 3-58, McAndrew 3-71) by 31 runs

O’Neill, in conjunction with 40 from Marcus Harris and 34 from Will Sutherland helped Victoria establish a first innings lead of 63 against excellent spells from Nathan McAndrew and Henry Thornton who picked up three wickets each.

SA then slumped to 94 for 5 at stumps, leading by just 31, with each of Victoria’s five bowlers taking a wicket. But Alex Carey stood unbeaten on 24 and remains the key to SA’s hopes of escape.

O’Neill’s innings was arguably the best of his career and it could not have come at a more important time. He entered at 127 for 5 after Ollie Peake had his off stump clattered by a superb delivery from McAndrew.

O’Neill was busy alongside the obdurate Harris. His unorthodox technique proved difficult to bowl to. He picked off anything straight and flashed at anything wide. He was fortunate to survive a couple of thick edges. One just evaded the outstretched right glove of Alex Carey and fell inches short of Jason Sangha ta first slip.

The pair added 30 before Harris’ luck ran out. Liam Scott had beaten him a number of times angling across the left-hander. Harris finally nicked one through to Carey.

O’Neill and Will Sutherland upped the tempo shortly after in a valuable 55-run stand, of which Sutherland scored 34. He pulled Jordan Buckingham for six to take Victoria past 200 and into the lead. He struck four other boundaries and SA struggled to break the stand as the ball softened.

Thornton was called on for a spell of short pitched bowling. O’Neill ducked consistently but Sutherland took it on and paid the price, dragging a pull shot onto his stumps.

O’Neill and Elliott added another 31 to frustrate the visitors. But the new ball brought a change in fortune. Buckingham was given a bonus when Elliott was adjudged caught at gully. The ball appeared to miss the inside edge and balloon off pad only to Scott in the gully. Thornton delivery a beauty to find Murphy’s outside edge before Victoria copped another debatable lbw decision to end the innings, with Boland given out to a Scott delivery that bounced significantly and appeared to be going over.

Boland returned breathing fire. He and O’Neill were unplayable against the new ball. Henry Hunt was lbw by O’Neill to a very full delivery that jagged back sharply off the seam to hit his front shin. Mackenzie Harvey was a deer in headlights against Boland for the fourth time in four innings. Boland again tormented him from around the wicket, angling in and nipping away, luring a half-hearted prod that was pouched by Sutherland at slip.

Perry’s first ball was a major moment. The first sub in the history of the Shield final snaked one back off the seam as McSweeney tried to leave. Wild celebrations broke out when the umpire felt it was not going over as it hit him in line with off.

Sangha counterattacked with some expansive drives both through and over cover. He struck six boundaries in his 34 to alleviate some pressure. But the brave driving against the swing and seam also brought about his downfall. He edged Sutherland behind trying to hit an outswinger on the up through cover. Murphy then struck first ball with Jake Lehmann dragging a rank long hop onto his stumps.