Port Elizabeth - Lesiba Ngoepe struck a critical half-century to leave the Warriors in prime position for a second Sunfoil Series victory of the season after day three of their clash against the VKB Knights at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The young left-hander made an attacking 70 (69 balls, 14 fours) to help the hosts make 236 in their second innings and set a victory target of 397.
By the close, two visiting wickets had fallen for just 43 leaving the Central franchise with plenty to do on day four, with another 354 runs to get.
Ngoepe’s effort with the bat overshadowed another excellent bowling display from Duanne Olivier. The fast bowler, one of the star bowlers of the 2016/17 season, took his third five-for of the campaign and 13th overall after finishing with 5/66.
He now has 28 wickets for the season and his burst on Saturday had put the home side in a difficult position at one stage on 136/7, before Ngoepe led the recovery.
The 23-year-old followed his 71 in the first innings with another handy contribution and shared in 42 and 40 run partneships for the eighth and 10th wickets with Ayabulela Gqamane (18) and Basheer Walters (18) respectively, before he was last man out.
Tshepo Ntuli also managed 2/49 as the Warriors struggled second time around having resumed the day on 19/0.
But the Eastern Cape side proved that they were not only the ones to battle with the bat after removing both visiting openers cheaply. Michael Erlank (15) fell to the seam of Walters and Luthando Mnyanda (19) was taken out by spinner Colin Ackermann leaving a difficult final day ahead.
The young left-hander made an attacking 70 (69 balls, 14 fours) to help the hosts make 236 in their second innings and set a victory target of 397.
By the close, two visiting wickets had fallen for just 43 leaving the Central franchise with plenty to do on day four, with another 354 runs to get.
Ngoepe’s effort with the bat overshadowed another excellent bowling display from Duanne Olivier. The fast bowler, one of the star bowlers of the 2016/17 season, took his third five-for of the campaign and 13th overall after finishing with 5/66.
He now has 28 wickets for the season and his burst on Saturday had put the home side in a difficult position at one stage on 136/7, before Ngoepe led the recovery.
The 23-year-old followed his 71 in the first innings with another handy contribution and shared in 42 and 40 run partneships for the eighth and 10th wickets with Ayabulela Gqamane (18) and Basheer Walters (18) respectively, before he was last man out.
Tshepo Ntuli also managed 2/49 as the Warriors struggled second time around having resumed the day on 19/0.
But the Eastern Cape side proved that they were not only the ones to battle with the bat after removing both visiting openers cheaply. Michael Erlank (15) fell to the seam of Walters and Luthando Mnyanda (19) was taken out by spinner Colin Ackermann leaving a difficult final day ahead.