Tabraiz Shamsi celebrated a match return of 12-173 as the Titans forged ahead to the brink of victory over the Warriors.
They ended the day on 58-0, needing 82 runs to give themselves a commanding lead in the race to the Sunfoil title with two matches to go.
Shamsi brilliantly picked up 7-93 with his unorthodox left-arm spin in the first innings; showing a dominance which persuaded Titans captain Henry Davids to ask him to opening the bowling in the Warriors second innings.
He had begun his demolition the previous night, removing Martin Walters for four as the Warriors ended on 17-1. Then he was instrumental in breaking a burgeoning partnership between Yaseen Vallie (34) and Colin Ackermann, which had put on 75 for the third wicket. With Marchant de Lange chipping in with three wickets during the day, Shamsi included the valuable wicket of Ackermann in his tally, after a stubborn stand of 72 off 174 balls. He ended with 5-80 off 30 overs.
The Titans’ push for the title will undoubtedly be helped by the fact that the Lions‘ hopes of a win in Pietermaritzburg against the Dolphins was again cut short by bad weather and poor light.
Only 37 overs were possible, but in that time the Lions reduced the Dolphins from 71-3 overnight to 259-9, with Imraan Khan (64), Daryn Smit (88) and Keshav Maharaj (44) providing the only resistance to Bjorn Fortuin (4-67) and Dwaine Pretorius (3-33).
The Lions, who were almost eight points short of the Titans when this round began, desperately needed a win.
In Bloemfontein, the Cobras are in a strong position at 222-4, a lead of 167 over the Knights. Omphile Ramela led the way with his sixth first-class hundred, compiling 109 off 201 balls (16×4, 2×6).
But given that they let the hosts take a 35-run lead in the first innings, they will need a brave declaration and a special bowling performance to get a positive result on the last day on Monday.
Dolphins v Highveld Lions scoreboard
