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East :London - Rassie van der Dussen struck a patient 82 as the Highveld Lions and Warriors reached the halfway stage of their crucial Sunfoil Series clash with honours even at Buffalo Park in East London on Friday.
The right-hander batted for over four hours and hit 10 fours in his 175-ball knock to take the visitors to 307 all out, before the hosts had reached 79/2 when bad light stopped – still trailing by 228.
After only 30.3 overs were possible on a rain-hit day one, almost the complete complement was delivered on day two when Van der Dussen was the backbone for his side.
The bottom-of-the-table Lions, who must win to give themselves a chance of staying alive in the title race, resumed on 107/3 but lost Temba Bavuma (35) and Nicky van den Bergh (13) early on.
But a 94-run sixth-wicket stand bolstered their prospects with Van der Dussen finding support through Mangaliso Mosehle (41).
Bjorn Fortuin also chipped in with 33 to ensure the away side crossed 300 before they were dismissed in 97.3 overs.
Anrich Nortje ended as the pick of the bowlers with 4/71, while there were two wickets each for Simon Harmer (2/33) and Basheer Walters (2/82).
The home side lost Gihahn Cloete (14) early in their reply, but Eddie Moore brought them stability with his unbeaten 39.
He put on a second-wicket 51 with Colin Ackermann, who fell to the part-time seam of Bavuma for 18 in the final 10 deliveries of the day.
