It was a day of outstanding individual performances at Newlands as Western Province battled to stay in the game against the DA World Lions on the second day of their CSA 4-Day series match.
First Mitchell van Buuren struck a career-best 170 for the Lions to enable his team to recover from 97 for four to a first-innings total of 402.
Then it was the turn of pace bowler Duanne Olivier, who took 5-66 for the Lions.
The former Protea, who has played 15 tests, claimed his 26th five-wicket haul as the visitors heaped early pressure on the home team when they went in to bat.
At one stage Province were 24 for five, and then 71 for six.
Finally, however, it was the turn of Kyle Simmonds who struck a career-best 114 not out – his third first-class century – sharing a seventh-wicket partnership of 132 with Beuran Hendricks who also made his highest first-class score of 81 that included 13 fours in only 115 balls.
Simmonds was still at the crease at the close, along with Nandre Burger, with his team still trailing by 149 runs with three wickets in hand.
STUMPS DAY 2 | Western Province 253/7 (70).
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 5, 2023
Simmonds (114*), Burger (6*). B. Hendricks 81, James 20.
Olivier 5/66, Moreki 1/44, Mulder 1/48. #WozaNawe #WPcricket #westernprovince #BoyInBlue💙 #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/ZgcD4RzMvu
LATE-INNINGS HEROICS
Earlier, Van Buuren was unbeaten overnight on 109 with the Lions well placed on 327 for six.
He continued to be the dominant force for his team, striking 18 fours and five sixes in his 259-ball innings.
He had come to the wicket on the first morning with the Lions perilously placed on 97 for four after Western Province had won the toss and inserted the visitors.
He was ably assisted by Wandile Makwetu (44) and Bjorn Fortuin (42) as the Lions made an excellent recovery.
Then it was Olivier’s turn. He began by dismissing Edward Moore and David Bedingham just before lunch and then went on to dismiss Valentine Kitme (2) and WP skipper Kyle Verreynne as the home team slumped to 24 for five in the 10th over.
There was some brief resistance from Juan James (20) and Simmonds before Wiaan Mulder had James caught by Dom Hendricks.
This was the signal for late-innings heroics by Simmonds and Hendricks in an innings that almost replicated that of the Lions.
Having captured four early wickets, Olivier claimed his fifth when he broke the big partnership, having Hendricks caught by Josh Richards.
So far, Simmonds’s runs have come in a brisk 143 balls and included 15 fours and he will certainly consider that his job is not finished when he walks out to bat again on Monday morning.
WESTERN PROVINCE: Beuran Hendricks, Dane Paterson, David Bedingham, Edward Moore, Juan James, Kyle Simmonds, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Valentine Kitime
DP WORLD LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Zubayr Hamza, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Mitchell van Buuren, Wandile Makwetu, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki