DAY 4: Hermann Keeps Warriors in the hunt

Jordan Hermann struck twice in the post-lunch session to keep the Dafabet Warriors in the hunt for a win on Sunday, the fourth day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons. At the break, the Dragons were on 203/6.

The Dragons still require 243 runs to win with four 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 386/8d on the third day. The Dragons have Ruan de Swardt (28*) and Migael Pretorius (12*) at the crease.

De Swardt and Pretorius' unbroken seventh-wicket partnership had added 16 runs to the Dragons' total. The visitors will be hoping that the pair will stay in for as long as possible after the tea break.

Coming into this match, Jordan Hermann had never taken a wicket in first-class cricket. The Warriors captain brought himself into the attack shortly before the lunch break when his side needed a breakthrough. He provided the breakthrough with the dismissal of Lesiba Ngoepe, who had constructed a 109-run third-wicket partnership with Rubin Hermann.

Rubin Hermann, Jordan's older brother, scored a valiant half-century to keep the Dragons in the contest. His 73 from 133 balls kept the visitors in the match as they fought for survival in the match. Given their run rate, a draw is the best-case scenario for the visitors. Rubin Hermann's brilliant knock was cut off by his brother, Jordan, after lunch. He was one of two victims who fell to the Warriors captain's spin. The other was Wihan Lubbe.

Ruan de Swardt and Meeka-eel Prince shared a 34-run sixth-wicket partnership that drew the Dragons closer to tea without further damage. However, the visitors lost another wicket, again, during a Jordan Hermann over. This time it was through a run-out executed by Renaldo Meyer.

At tea, Jordan Hermann had three wickets for 21 runs in 12 overs. He is the leading wicket-taker for the Warriors in the innings. Duanne Olivier and Beyers Swanepoel have a single wicket each.