Lions on target for first win

Johannesburg - Debutant Dale Deeb added another four scalps to his bag, leaving the Lions on the verge of their first win of the season on the third day of their SuperSport Series match against the Dolphins at the Wanderers on Saturday.

The Dolphins, following on, were on 350/7 at the close, with Kyle Abbott unbeaten on four and Quinton Friend yet to get off the mark.

Deeb added to his tally of three wickets in the first innings, ending the day with a bag of seven for the match.

The 20-year-old left-arm spinner picked up the key wickets of Imraan Khan, Ravi Bopara and Ahmed Amla to leave the Dolphins with a lead of just 89 runs with three wickets remaining going into the final day.

Earlier, Dolphins openers Divan van Wyk and Imraan Khan had fought back in the morning session, adding to their overnight total of 29 without loss and denying the Lions any reward in the first session of play with a dogged display of defence.

The Lions attack, however, were also to blame for a wicketless session as they were unable to make the Dolphins play at most deliveries.

Van Wyk and Khan both reached their half-centuries in the first 90 minutes and the visitors went to lunch with their wickets intact at 145 without loss.

After the break, however, the Lions returned with renewed strength and soon made inroads into the Dolphins lineup.

The opening partnership of 163 was broken by Zander de Bruyn, and the Dolphins were left stumbling again as their next three wickets fell for 26 runs.

Struggling England international Ravi Bopara fell for 34 after making another good start shortly after tea.

Deeb picked up Bopara's wicket for his fifth of the match, and the Dolphins were 245 for five, still trailing by 16 runs.

The fall of the English all-rounder brought together the young duo of Daryn Smit with Devon Conway who managed to stabilise the innings with a 79-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Together they fought resiliently to first wipe out the deficit, and then forge a lead. Conway was particularly harsh on some mediocre Lions bowling, smashing two sixes, one of which was dispatched out the ground.

The 19-year-old Conway was finally out leg before to De Bruyn for a brisk 86 with the Dolphins leading by 63 runs.

Once Conway fell, the momentum shifted towards the Lions camp and they were in a commanding position heading into the final day.