A 16th career century by Rassie van der Dussen helped the Lions hold a commanding 119-run advantage over the Dolphins at the halfway stage of their round four 4-Day Domestic Series battle in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The Proteas star was unbeaten on 101 (180 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) at the close, with the defending champions having pushed on to 354-7 in reply to the visitors’ day one 235.

The main support for Van der Dussen came via Kagiso Rapulana’s 66 (114 balls, 9 fours), while Keith Dudgeon bagged 4-72 for the Dolphins, who now have plenty of work to do by trying to salvage something from the second half of the game at the Wanderers Stadium.

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They had started the day on the back foot following that disappointing day one showing with the bat as the Lions resumed on 50-0.

Robbie Frylinck (2-59) made the initial breakthrough when he ended the opening stand on 68 by dismissing Dominic Hendricks for 41.

But Reeza Hendricks (49) joined Joshua Richards (36) as the pair put on another 47 for wicket No 2, before both fell in quick succession.

But Rapulana and Van der Dussen then strung together the big stand of the day – a partnership of 109 for the fourth wicket – that lifted the home side up to 245-3.

Senuran Muthusamy (1-55) eventually intervened to snap the stand, before Dudgeon landed a triple blow for his side.

But Van der Dussen held firm and was still there at the close with his side in a strong position.

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