Kyle Verreynne scored 97 as the Cobras took a grip on their contest with the Warriors.

Verreynne, who is in the Proteas Test squad to face Sri Lanka in the series starting on Boxing Day, continued his excellent form for the Cape side, falling just three runs short of a century.

His last five scores have been 39,85,51,72 and 97, putting him among the competition’s leading run-scorers. His contribution helped the Cobras to a total of 255 in response to the Warriors’ first-innings 194. George Linde got 49 for the Cobras.

The Warriors were 91-2 at stumps, a lead of 30 runs.

In Bloemfontein, the Knights’ Raynard van Tonder’s excellent innings ended on 200 (he was 180* overnight). He spent 417 minutes at the crease, facing 261 deliveries, hitting 25 fours and two sixes. His score, and a brilliant 96 by Ferisco Adams, contributed to a massive first-innings total of 472.

The Lions are 124-2 in response at stumps, a deficit of 348 runs.