DP World Lions captain Dominic Hendricks struck an unbeaten century to put his side in a strong position on 268-3 at the close of play on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series match against World Sports Betting Western Province at DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Opener Hendricks led the batting effort by carrying his bat throughout the day, while half centuries from Muhammad Manack and Zubayr Hamza backed him up well.
Hendricks ended the day on 102 off 296 balls, having struck 14 boundaries, while Hamza scored 77 off 111 (10x4; 1x6) and Manack 64 off 142 (13x4).
After tea the Lions resumed on 155-2, with Hendricks and Hamza guiding their side past the 200-run mark.
Hamza brought up his half century, while the duo extended their third-wicket partnership to 132 runs before Onke Nyaku made the breakthrough, bowling Hamza to leave the Lions on 243-3.
Khaya Fakude (8*) then joined Hendricks, who reached his century just before the end of the day, while they made sure there would be no further trouble taking their side to the close of play in a solid position.
Earlier in the day the hosts had an incredibly slow morning session as they reached lunch on 60-1, but in the early afternoon session they picked things up a bit as Hendricks and Manack extended their second-wicket partnership to 108 runs.
Both batters reached their half centuries, before Manack edged spinner Kyle Simmonds to keeper Daniel Smith, leaving them on 111-2 with Hamza then joining Hendricks as they eased their side to tea.
In the morning session the Lions won the toss and chose to bat first, but lost opener Joshua Richards for a nine-ball duck in the second over of the day after he edged debutant Jody Lawrence to Eddie Moore at third slip with the score 3-1.
But that brought Manack in to join Hendricks and they played extremely carefully against some good bowling from Province, leaving the good balls and putting away the bad ones as they took their side to the break in a decent position.
DP WORLD LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Muhammad Manack, Zubayr Hamza, Khaya Fakude, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Codi Yusuf, Tshepo Moreki, Lutho Sipamla
WORLD SPORTS BETTING WESTERN PROVINCE: Edward Moore, Jonothan Bird, Yaseen Vallie, Daniel Smith, Bongi Mfunelwa, George Linde (capt), Mihlali Mpongwana, Onke Nyaku, Kyle Simmonds, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Jody Lawrence