Temba Bavuma, Lions vs Warriors, day 2

Delano Potgieter continued his sensational debut by claiming four wickets for the title-chasing Highveld Lions, but the Warriors did manage to fight back to end the second day of their 4-Day Series match strongly in Potchefstroom on Tuesday. The all-rounder, who shared a South African record 301-run partnership on his way to 145 on day one, nabbed four for 54 as the visitors reached stumps on 314 four six at Senwes Park. It left the Eastern Cape franchise trailing by 126 runs at the halfway stage of a game the home side must win to give themselves the best chance of overhauling the Cape Cobras at the top of the table. The Johannesburg-based side started the day by adding 31 for their remaining two wickets as Fortuin moved from his overnight score of 157 to finish with a magnificent 183 (227 balls, 34×4, 1×6). Glenton Stuurman ended with five for 110 – his eighth career five-for – as the Lions finished with 440. It was then over to the Warriors and they made a good fist of the reply thanks to a number of contributions. Eddie Moore (36) and Matthew Breetzke (30) put on 72 for the first wicket, with both falling to the seam of Potgieter within 11 balls of each other. The quick wickets of Lesiba Ngoepe (11) and Yaseen Vallie (14), also to the debutant, then left the away side in some trouble on 122 for four. But one of the brightest prospects of the 2018/19 competition, Sinethemba Qeshile, again rose to the fore with his fourth half-century in five innings to lift his side. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper top-scored with a fluent 76 (82 balls, 12×4) and shared in stands of 58 and 61 with Marco Marais (33) and Sisanda Magala respectively to take the Warriors to 241 for six. The latter was still unbeaten at stumps, batting on 59 (124 balls, 9×4), and together with Thomas Kaber (38), had added an unbroken 73 for the seventh wicket to keep their side will in the game. Lions 440 (BC Fortuin 183, D Potgieter 145, K Rapulana 34, T Bavuma 22, SC Cook 21; GA Stuurman 5-110, SSB Magala 3-101, S Langa 2-70) Warriors 314-6 (S Qeshile 76, SSB Magala 59 not out, TP Kaber 38 not out, EM Moore 36, M Marais 33, MP Breetzke 30; D Potgieter 4-54, MP Siboto 1-59, BC Fortuin 1-65) Warriors won the toss and elected to field Footage: Cricket South Africa