'Always frustrating against you': Controversial sub rule wreaks havoc as Victoria close in on Shield final
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Victoria reaped the benefits of a controversial substitute rule, with bowler Mitch Perry claiming a crucial wicket in the Sheffield Shield final.
Perry was on 12th man duties for the decider against South Australia, but was injected into the contest on Saturday when teammate Sam Elliott went down injured.
Elliott was forced from the field with a hamstring injury, allowing Perry to enter the fray.
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Scott Boland and Fergus O'Neill struck early to leave the Redbacks in trouble at 2-10, things got even better for the Vics when their super-sub came into the attack.
With his first delivery, Perry struck Nathan McSweeney on the pads and got the lbw decision to go his way, sending the No.3 back to the pavilion.
South Australia finished the day at 5-94 and lead by only 31 runs with Victoria still to bat in the second innings, placing them in the box-seat to claim the title.
"It's always frustrating when it's against you," coach Ryan Harris said.
"It's a shit rule unless you make the most of it. In saying that, we could do the same, we're allowed to do the same until the end of play.
"Is it the right rule? It has been all year, it's not as though it's just come in for this game."
Perry admitted he was "pretty stiff" going from the bench to bowling in a Shield final, while also coneding Elliott's initial selection was the right call.
'"It's a bit of a free hit, to be fair. No one's expecting me to go out there and dominate the game," the 25-year-old said.
Mitch Perry celebrates after taking the wicket of Nathan McSweeney. Getty
"Sutho [captain Will Sutherland] said to me that a few of the lads have been finding it pretty difficult to pitch it up, and I reckon that was the only one I pitched up.
"It came out nicely. I couldn't have asked for a better ball to come out first ball.
"Sammy definitely deserved his place in the team and it was probably the right decision at the start of the game. One of us was going to be disappointed at the end of the day.
"I'm absolutely gutted for him to not be able to play the full five days."
Earlier on the third day of the match, O'Neill put the Vics on top with an unbeaten 64, backing up his brilliant first innings performance with the ball.
