DAY 3: Warriors take control, thanks to a quartet of 50s

The Dafabet Warriors had established themselves as firm favourites to win at stumps on day three of their CSA 4-Day Series match against Renault Potchefstroom North-West Dragons at Dafabet St George's Park on Saturday.

The Dragons were on 28 for two at stumps. 

The visitors need 418 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. The Warriors batted first and recorded a first-innings score of 298. The Dragons replied with 239 on day two. Then the hosts piled on 386 for eight declared on the third day.

At stumps, the Dragons had Lesiba Ngoepe (5*) and Rubin Hermann (7*) at the crease. The visitors are chasing a target of 447 runs to win.

However, their chase did not start well. They lost Janneman Malan and Matthew Kleinveldt in the fourth and fifth overs.

Duanne Olivier, who starred with the bat earlier, was one of the wicket-takers. He dismissed Matthew Kleinveldt.

He had taken one wicket for 15 runs at the close of play. Beyers Swanepoel, the other wicket-taker, was more economical with a single wicket for five runs in four overs.

Olivier, renowned for his pace bowling, showed a different side to him when he stroked an unbeaten half-century, becoming the fourth Warriors batter to reach the milestone on day three.

Sinethemba Qeshile was the first to register a half-ton.

He did so after lunch, having arrived at the crease in the morning session, after Jean du Plessis' dismissal. 

EXCELLENT DE VILLIERS

The wicket-keeper scored 71 from 112 balls. The 25-year-old faced 90 deliveries to register his 17th first-class half-century. The milestone came during his 80-run fifth-wicket partnership with De Villiers.

De Villiers, who is making his first-class debut, was the second Warriors batter to register a half-century. The former Western Province Colts player moved to Claremont Cricket Club and was signed by the Warriors on a high-performance contract this year.

The 24-year-old announced himself to four-day cricket with a well-played 94 in the fourth innings and he followed it up with an 86-ball 58. He faced 74 balls to reach his second first-class 50.

Kruger, who imposed himself on the innings from the time he arrived at the crease, was the next batter to reach the milestone.

He stroked a fluent run-a-ball 79, his 11th first-class half-century, as he helped the Warriors pile runs on a toiling Dragons bowling attack.

Olivier then rounded up the run-scoring with an unbeaten 60 off 103 deliveries. Jordan Hermann, the Warriors captain, declared when his side had established a 446-run lead.

Wihan Lubbe was the pick of the bowlers for the Dragons in the Warriors' second innings.

The spinner took three wickets for 94 runs in 21 overs. Achille Cloete and Kerwin Mungroo bagged a brace of wickets each, while Migael Pretorius had one wicket.

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann (capt), Jiveshan Pillay, Andile Mogakane, Jean du Plessis, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Matthew de Villiers, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier, Renaldo Meyer, Siya Simetu.

DRAGONS: Janneman Malan, Matthew Kleinveldt, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rubin Hermann, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Migael Pretorius, Bamanye Xenxe, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete.