DAY 4: Hermann's half-century keeps Warriors in the contest

Jordan Hermann's well-paced half-century in the morning session of day four helped give the Dafabet Warriors a shot at a positive result, in their CSA 4-Day Series match against WSB Western Province at WSB Newlands on Sunday. At lunch, the Warriors were on 103 for two.

The Warriors need 258 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. Western Province, who won the toss and elected to bat first, chalked a first-innings total of 464. The visitors replied with a first-innings tally of 266. The hosts extended their lead with a second-innings score of 162 for eight declared. The Warriors had Jordan Hermann (61*) and Matthew Breetzke (37*) in the middle at lunch.

Hermann looked in control as he patiently batted his way to a 12th first-class half-century. The 22-year-old left-hander faced 83 deliveries to reach the milestone. Last week, the opener scored a masterful fourth innings century as he battled to keep the Warriors in the contest against Goldrush Boland. He displayed his ability to bat in the fourth innings again with a much-needed half-century.

Hermann was supported by his captain, Matthew Breetzke. The pair saw off the new ball with relative ease in the first hour of play. Western Province is missing their captain, Beuran Hendricks, who suffered an injury during the Warriors' first innings. Without him in the side, Western Province has had to rely on Dane Paterson and their spin twins, George Linde and Kyle Simmonds. Paterson created havoc late on day three, taking two quick wickets to put the hosts on the front foot.

Hermann and Breetzke saw him off with relative ease. The duo constructed an unbroken 95-run third-wicket partnership. This is the Warriors' highest partnership in the match, so far. When they got together, the Warriors were on eight for two and in all sorts of trouble.

Dane Paterson was Western Province's most successful bowler of the innings at the interval. He was the sole wicket-taker with two wickets for 23 runs in eight overs.

WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Edward Moore, Mohammed Vallie, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), George Linde, Valentine Kitime, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks (capt), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Dane Paterson.

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jiveshan Pillay, Matthew Breetzke (capt), Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Andile Mogakane, Senuran Muthusamy, Beyers Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie.