DAY 3: Simmonds puts Western Province on the front foot

Kyle Simmonds registered his 14th first-class four-wicket haul as he strengthened WSB Western Province's position on Saturday, the third morning of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Dafabet Warriors. At lunch, the Warriors were on 260 for seven.

The Warriors trail Western Province by 204 runs with three wickets in hand. Western Province batted well during the first two days of play as they constructed a 464-run first-innings total. At lunch, the Warriors had Beyers Swanepoel (63*) and Jason Raubenheimer (17*) at the crease.

Kyle Simmonds picked up from where he left off on day two. The 30-year-old finished the second day with three wickets for 55 runs as he helped the home side destabilise the Warriors' reply to their first-innings score. On the third morning, Simmonds struck in the first hour to break Senuran Muthusamy and Beyers Swanepoel's promising sixth-wicket partnership.

Muthusamy had emerged for the third day looking and playing positively. The all-rounder quickly added nine more runs to register his 30th first-class half-century. He faced 136 deliveries to reach the milestone. Muthusamy registered the half-century during his 80-run partnership with Beyers Swanepoel.

Swanepoel did not take long before he chalked a milestone of his own. The 26-year-old took control of the innings following Muthusamy's dismissal. The all-rounder needed 80 deliveries to reach his eighth first-class half-century. Swanepoel kept the visitors in the match by remaining steadfast at the crease through the session.

Simmonds was Western Province's most successful bowler with four wickets for 64 runs in 34.1 overs. Dane Paterson was the next best bowler with two wickets for 53 runs in 20 overs. Mthiwekhaya Nabe was the third wicket-taker with a single wicket to his name.

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.