The Cobras are in a good position for their first Sunfoil win after the Lions struggled to a lead of just 100, with three wickets remaining, in Oudtshoorn.
Having started their second innings 147 behind, the Lions owe their survival on day three to the magnificent anchoring role played by Nicky van den Bergh.
He was cruelly denied a deserved century when caught off the bowling of offspinner Dane Piedt, seven runs short of what would have been his ninth first-class hundred, having faced 252 balls, which included 10 fours.
Van den Bergh was at the crease when the Lions were 48-4, thanks to two quick strikes from Wayne Parnell, but found an equally dogged partner in Dwaine Pretorius, who contributed 62 to a stand of 97 for the fifth wicket.
When he fell lbw to become Jason Smith’s second victim of the day, Van den Bergh battled on with solid support from Mangaliso Mosehle (21), adding 60 for the next wicket.
But the young school star Wiaan Mulder is at the crease with 12, and the Cobras will need to remove his ever-present threat – he has a Sunfoil best of 102 – and wrap it up quickly. They don’t want to take any chances.
Meanwhile, the Titans‘ hopes of strengthening their position at the top of the Sunfoil log was undermined by rain in Bloemfontein which washed out the first two days and forced the match against the Knights to be abandoned on day three.
The was no play either on day three in Kingsmead where the Dolphins, at 243-2 on Friday night were in a strong position against the Warriors (231). The loss of the day’s play has condemned the match to a draw.
Cobras v Lions Scorecard
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
