JOHANNESBURG, February 28, 2023 – Skipper Dominic Hendricks once again batted very well but the DP World Lions are still going to have to dig deep on the final day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against Six Gun Grill Western Province at the DP World Wanderers Stadium as they lead by 129 runs with five wickets remaining.
Trailing by exactly 100 runs on first innings, the Lions began their second innings in the most solid fashion as the prolific opening pair of Hendricks and Josh Richards added 83 for the first wicket.
Richards was eventually caught behind off Mihlali Mpongwana for 36, but Hendricks continued fighting hard for his team as he proceeded to score 80 off 142 deliveries with 11 fours.
The left-hander was unfortunate to then be run out by a direct hit at the bowler’s end after some confusion with Kagiso Rapulana, leaving the Lions on 148 for three.
Rapulana fell for 27 not long afterwards and Mitchell van Buuren was adjudged lbw against Dane Paterson for eight, as the Lions slipped to 181 for five.
But debutant Connor Esterhuizen did brilliantly as he and first-innings centurion Bjorn Fortuin showed plenty of determination to bat through to stumps, adding an unbeaten 48 for the sixth wicket as the Lions closed on 229 for five.
Esterhuizen will resume on the final morning on 33 not out, while Fortuin has 25.
Earlier, Tsepo Moreki (24*) and Dane Paterson (22) managed to extend the Western Province first innings to 423 all out.
Seamer Lutho Sipamla finished with four for 101 in 26 overs for the home side, while Fortuin also contributed well with the ball, taking three for 63 in 18.2 overs with his left-arm spin.
The Lions are famous for their passion for winning cricket, and especially for ruling the roost at the DP World Wanderers, so there is little doubt they will set up an enthralling final day of the four-day match on Wednesday.
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