Ayabulela Gqamane and Simon Harmer each took three wickets as the Northerns Titans claimed a first-innings lead against the Boland Rocks in Paarl on Saturday.
The Rocks were dismissed for 234, still 74 runs behind their opponents. At stumps on day three, the Titans were 96-3, 170 runs ahead.
Boland had resumed their innings on 142-4, with Isma-eel Gafieldien having brought up his half-century alongside Ferisco Adams (44).
Adams was the first wicket to fall on Saturday, leaving Gafieldien to carry the torch, a challenge he accepted as he closed in on a hard-fought century despite losing partners around him.
Gafieldien was eventually dismissed agonisingly close to the milestone for 97.
Gqamane (3-41) and Harmer (3-52) were well supported by Corbin Bosch (2-45) and Dayyaan Galiem (2-39).
The Titans made a measured start to their second innings before losing two quick wickets. Neil Brand came to the crease with the score at 23-2 and his 32* helped guide them to 93-3 with one day of the match remaining.
The clash at Boland Park was the only game that had a full day’s play, as rain disrupted proceedings in Johannesburg and Potchefstroom.
At the Wanderers, opener Joshua Richards (100 off 208 balls) made the most of his time at the crease before the rain came down.
The Central Gauteng Lions extended their lead over the Free State Knights to 96 runs in the top-of-the-table clash.
There was no play possible in the game between the North West Dragons and KZN Dolphins due to persistent rain.
4-Day Round 3 Day 3 scores:
Central Gauteng Lions lead Free State Knights by 69 runs
Knights: 124
Lions: 193-3 after 69.4 overs; J Richards 100* (208), K Rapulana 58 (151); P Kruger 2-35, N van Heerden 1-26
North West Dragons trail KZN Dolphins by 396 runs
Dolphins: 400-9 dec; M Ackerman 123 (156), R de Swardt 71 (97); D Potgieter 5-85, L Senokwane 2-40
Dragons: 4-0 after 1.5 overs; W Marshall 4* (5)
Northerns Titans lead Boland Rocks by 170 runs
Titans: 308 & 96-3 after 34 overs; N Brand 32* (69), G Cloete 28 (57); S von Berg 2-25, H Viljoen 1-37
Rocks: 234 after 102.1 overs; I Gafieldien 97 (305), F Adams 44 (77); A Gqamane 3-41, S Harmer 3-52
EP Warriors beat Western Province by an innings and 114 runs
Warriors: 366
WP: 79 & 173
