PAARL, March 9, 2023 – The DP World Lions attack put in a serious effort on the final day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the GBets Rocks at Boland Park on Wednesday, but they were ultimately held to a draw.
Former Proteas batsman Stiaan van Zyl scored a resolute unbeaten century to deny the Lions, helped by a determined 83 not out from Clyde Fortuin. The Rocks reached 198 for one in their second innings, still trailing by 130 runs, when the two captains agreed to shake hands and call the match off as a draw.
The home side had started the final day on 92 for nine in their first innings, and the Lions needed just 10 balls to claim the final wicket, Bjorn Fortuin trapping Van Zyl lbw for 59 to leave Boland 93 all out. Fortuin finished with four for 47 in 19.4 impressive overs.
The Lions, leading by a mammoth 328 runs, enforced the follow-on and the Rocks were plunged into deep trouble when another former Protea, Pieter Malan, fell lbw to Codi Yusuf at the end of his first over.
Thereafter, left-arm spinner Fortuin wheeled away for 25 overs without success or luck, while Yufus put in a 12-over stint but could not add to his tally of wickets.
The pitch died in terms of life for the bowlers and so did the match, with the Lions’ other seamers seen off, not even those well-known buyers of wickets, part-time spinners Kagiso Rapulana and Reeza Hendricks, could make a breakthrough.
Having only been able to collect around 10 bonus points from the draw, the Lions will now need to hammer the log-leading HollywoodBets Dolphins with a rich haul of points, and hope Six Gun Grill Western Province and the DafaBet Warriors draw their game, for them to have a chance of winning the four-day title.
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