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 for six.

The Lions trail the Dragons by 117 runs with four wickets in hand. They are replying to the Dragons' first innings score of 425 for six declared. 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 for six 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.