Three wickets apiece by Onke Nyaku and Lutho Sipamla put the Warriors in a strong position after the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter with the Lions in East London on Tuesday.

This despite an excellent all-round effort by Dwaine Pretorius, who first claimed 2-52 and then struck an attacking 71 (102 balls, 8 fours, 1 six), that helped the visitors reach the halfway stage of the game at 211-8 at Buffalo Park.

It left them in a precarious position with only a 157-run lead and just two wickets standing, with the hosts also having their captain Jon-Jon Smuts to thank for getting them into a strong position in the game after he earlier struck 61 (113 balls, 6 fours, 1 six).

New issue: Bavuma – one size fits all

The Warriors started day two batting on 113-5 responding to the Lions’ day one 152 and they managed to add just under 100 thanks to the skipper and Andrew Birch (24) and Glenton Stuurman (22).

They were eventually dismissed for 206 in 63.3 overs as Wiaan Mulder picked up 4-36. Pretorius collected two and Beuran Hendricks (2-39) also landed a double for the defending champions.

Nyaku (3-41) then sliced through the top order and left the Lions limping at 71-5 – with Dominic Hendricks’ 30 the best score amongst the top five.

Then came the rebuilding job through Pretorius and Nicky van den Bergh (44) with the pair adding 88 for the sixth wicket to give their side hope of a positing a substantial final-innings target.

However, the stand was snapped by Stuurman (1-41), before two more blows from Sipamla (3-52) put the Warriors in command at the close.

Photo: Gallo Images