Stumps have been drawn on day three of all three of the CSA 4-Day Series first round matches with final day results looking likely across the board.
CSA 4-Day Series: Dolphins vs Lions
Lions 258 & 75/3 Dolphins 458/3d. The Lions trail the Dolphins by 125 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.
Sarel Erwee (199) and Keegan Petersen (173) shared a mammoth 337-run second wicket partnership to help the Dolphins to a lead of 200 after the first innings.
The Lions still need 125 runs to make the Dolphins bat again with three top-order batsmen already back in the hut thanks to Keshav Maharaj.
The Proteas spinner accounted for Dominic Hendricks (12), Rassie van der Dussen (10) and Reeza Hendricks (38) to leave the defending champions on the back foot heading into the final day.
Temba Bavuma (10*) and Ryan Rickelton (5*) will resume the Lions efforts to save the match on Thursday morning.
Of the 35 overs the Dolphins bowled on day three, 30 were accounted for by spinners indicating the Lions are in for a trial by spin on day four.
The Dolphins have attacked the game with purpose with skipper Marques Ackermann (52*) upping the tempo when he came to the crease in order to put the hosts in position to clinch a victory, while Maharaj chipped in with a cameo of 17 not out off 13 balls.
CSA 4-Day Series: Knights vs Warriors
Knights 430/6d & 93/8d Warriors 158 & 173/7 (74 ov, target 366). The Warriors require 193 runs to win with three second innings wickets in hand.
The Knights are on the bring of victory after the Warriors top order collapsed for a second time in their CSA 4-Day Series meeting in Bloemfontein.
Matthew Breetzke has offered some bold resistance in the second innings with his 71 not out but looks to have run out of partners capable of helping the Warriors make an unlikely victory push.
Knights allrounder Jacques Snyman has enjoyed a fantastic match smashing 109 in the first innings of 430 for six declared before wrapping up the Warriors tail in the Eastern Cape outfit’s reply of 158 all out. Snyman returned figures of 3/29 while his former Titans teammate Shaun von Berg was the pick of the Knights bowlers claiming 4/54.
The hosts second innings was something of a slog with Snyman top-scoring again, this time with just 33 in a madcap 98 for eight declared.
The Warriors needed 366 to win on a surface that has become very tricky to bat on and have been reduced to 173 for seven. Migael Pretorius (3/25) has been the pick of the bowlers in the fourth innings so far.
CSA 4-Day Series: Cobras vs Titans
Cape Cobras 264/9d & 201 Titans 150 & 195/3 (60 ov, target 316). The Titans need 121 runs to win with seven second innings wickets left in hand.
A fighting 85 from the Cobras’ Kyle Verreynne put his side back in contention to claim the CSA 4-Day Series match against the Titans at Newlands that remains poised on a knife-edge.
Verreynne helped push the target set for the Titans beyond 300 but it seems the visitors are bent on chasing that down.
Dean Elgar (58) and Aiden Markram (48) came out with intent and shared a 105-run opening stand that gave the Titans belief.
With Theunis de Bruyn on 63 not out overnight, the Titans are well-placed for a victory push but sport quite a long tail which will keep the Cobras interested.
