Dolphins face massive total
Rassie van der Dussen survived another onslaught from Sunfoil Dolphins quicks, Mathew Pillans and Calvin Savage, to help the Highveld Lions set an extremely challenging target in their Sunfoil Series match at the Wanderers.
Van der Dussen fell short of what would
have been his 10th first-class century, but his 98 allowed the Lions to declare
their second innings on 316 for eight and set the Dolphins a target of 390 in
three-and-a-half sessions.
The Lions’ bid for 10 second-innings wickets was then stymied by bad light, which brought the third day to a close with the Dolphins on 28 for one.
Van der Dussen resumed on his overnight total of 22, and made sure that the Dolphins were unable to fight their way back into the match as he began the day with two significant partnerships.
First he extended his second-wicket stand with Devon Conway (40) to 79, and then he added a further 77 for the third wicket with Alviro Petersen (54).
Pillans had picked up four wickets in the first innings, and he would pick up another four in the second - starting with the double breakthrough that saw both Petersen and Temba Bavuma caught behind.
Yet Van der Dussen saw out that spell and put on another 87 with Nicky van den Bergh (63). By the time that Van der Dussen was trapped lbw by Savage, the Lions had a lead of 337.
Pillans and Savage kept at it, ending with impressive match figures of 8 for 120 and 8 for 129 respectively, but the Lions maintained control of the match in spite of their efforts.
Hardus Viljoen trapped Divan van Wyk lbw to set the hosts on their way to victory, leaving the Dolphins with nine wickets to defend on the final day to avoid defeat - or 362 runs for an unlikely win.
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