Gihahn Cloete struck 91 for the Warriors as they hit back on the penultimate day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter with the Cape Cobras in East London on Wednesday.

Replying to the visitors’ 333, the men from the Eastern Cape resumed day three on 104-2 before declaring on 341-9 at Buffalo Park – the two teams essentially cancelling out each other in a match that has been affected by the weather.

David Bedingham then blazed an unbeaten 56 off 50 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) to help the Cobras reach stumps on 109-1, a lead of 101.

With just a day to go, a draw now looks like the most likely outcome between the two Cape rivals.

Day three was mainly bat-dominated as Cloete led the way for the home side. He faced 154 balls and landed 18 boundaries, before falling nine shy of a century.

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The left-hander shared in a 121-run third-wicket stand with Rudi Second, who also hit a half-century, before falling for 55 (124 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).

Cloete and Sinethemba Qeshile (28) added 54 for the fourth wicket, with further lower-order contributions coming from Lesiba Ngoepe (24) and Jade de Klerk (22) after which the Warriors declared.

The pick of the bowlers was George Linde with two for 2-43, the spinner being one of four bowlers to claim two wickets.

The Cobras then lost Janneman Malan (20) early, but Matthew Kleinveldt (27) and Bedingham combined for a 79-run unbroken second-wicket partnership that took the Cobras to the close.

Photo: Gallo Images