DAY 3: Fortuin and Esterhuizen keep Lions in the hunt

Bjorn Fortuin and Connor Esterhuizen registered brilliant half-centuries as they led the Lions' fightback in the post-lunch session of the third day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Renault Potchefstroom North-West Dragons at the JB Marks Oval on Saturday. At tea, the Lions were on 308/6.

The Lions trail the Dragons by 117 runs with four wickets in hand. They are replying to the Dragons' first innings score of 425/6d. At the interval, the Lions had Connor Esterhuizen (65) and Bjorn Fortuin (81) at the crease.

Fortuin is enjoying a couple of fruitful weeks with the bat. Last week, the 30-year-old scored an imperious 96-ball 116 as he singlehandedly laid the foundation for the Lions' victory over the Multiply Titans. In this innings, when Fortuin arrived at the crease, the Lions were on 158/6 and in need of runs to close the gap between the two sides.

Fortuin combined with Connor Esterhuizen for an unbroken 150-run seventh-wicket partnership that cut a large chunk from the visitors' deficit. The lower-order batter faced 63 deliveries on his way to an eighth first-class half-century. His partner, Esterhuizen, also registered a half-century during their partnership. The 23-year-old faced 94 balls for his 50. This is his seventh first-class match and this is his maiden half-century.

Ruan de Swardt was the Dragons' most successful bowler with four wickets for 29 runs in 18 overs. This is his third first-class four-wicket haul. Migael Pretorius, the other wicket-taker, had two wickets for 75 runs in 18 overs.

DRAGONS: Janneman Malan, Matthew Kleinveldt, Lesiba Ngoepe, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Taheer Isaacs (wk), Migael Pretorius, Achille Cloete, Odirile Modimokoane, Jaydon Brooker.

DP WORLD LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Zubayr Hamza, Wiaan Mulder, Khaya Fakude, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Codi Yusuf, Tshepo Moreki, Junaid Dawood.