A classy career-best 180 by Temba Bavuma was not enough to prevent the top-of-the-table Lions from suffering an upset 130-run defeat by the bottom-of-the-table Dolphins late on the final day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.

The Proteas batsman was last man out after battling hard to save his side by facing 282 balls and striking 24 fours along the way. His previous highest score was 162.

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In the end a lack of support proved to be the downfall of the defending champions, whose scorecard included a next best score of just 25 by Nono Pongolo.

The key man for the home side was Prenelan Subrayen with his fourth career five-for after he finished with figures of 5-105 in 42 overs, with Senuran Muthusamy collecting 2-92.

The visitors had started day four on 98-4 chasing a mighty 430.

All credit to Bavuma, however, for not surrendering without a fight. The diminutive right-hander extended his overnight partnership with Ryan Rickelton (24) to 93 for the fifth wicket, before adding 99 with Pongolo for the eighth wicket.

But his 15th first-class ton lacked further support and he eventually fell late in the day to Muthusamy, handing the home side a second successive win.

Photo: Gallo Images