DAY 3: Linde's half-century helps Western Province extend lead over Warriors

George Linde carved an outstanding half-century that buoyed WSB Western Province to a position of strength on the third day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Dafabet Warriors at WSB Newlands on Saturday. At stumps, the Warriors were on 10/2.

The Warriors need 351 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. Western Province batted first and recorded a 464-run first-innings total. The Warriors replied with a first-innings tally of 266. Western Province scored 162/8d in their second innings for a 360-run lead. The Warriors had Jordan Hermann (7*) and Matthew Breetzke (2*) at the crease at the close of play.

Dane Paterson bowled brilliantly in his first spell of the Warriors' second innings. He bagged a brace of wickets in back-to-back deliveries to put a dent in the visitors' chase. First to go was Andile Mogakane. The middle-order batter opened because their regular opener, Jiveshan Pillay, suffered an injury on day one and has not taken part in the game since. Jason Raubenheimer, the Nightwatchman, fell on the next delivery.

George Linde, who scored a brilliant century in the first innings, continued his good run of form with the bat with a second-innings half-century. The allrounder scored an 86-ball 57 to extend Western Province's lead over the visitors. He faced 75 deliveries to reach the milestone. This is his eighth first-class half-century. The 32-year-old has the most runs in the match, with 209 runs in two innings.

Before his dismissal, Linde had shared a 51-run eighth-wicket partnership with Dane Paterson. That was Western Province's highest partnership in the innings. David Bedingham was the second-highest run-scorer in the innings with a brisk 59-ball 47.

Duanne Olivier was the most successful bowler for the Warriors in Western Province's second innings. The pacer took three wickets for 31 runs in nine overs. He was also the best bowler for the visitors with five wickets for 88 runs in 29 overs. Siya Plaatjie, who bagged a brace in the second innings, finished with four wickets in the match. Beyers Swanepoel also finished with four wickets.

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.