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Pretoria - A stunning 7.2-over burst from Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen put the Lions on course for victory after day three of their domestic four-day clash against the Titans at Centurion, outside Pretoria, on Saturday.
The fast bowling pair shared five wickets between them in a riveting final hour to reduce the hosts to 20 for five by stumps, 300 runs away from victory.
Morris bagged three for 12 and Viljoen claimed two for seven to end a dramatic day in which 19 wickets tumbled.
The Titans had started out the day batting in their first innings on 278 for six and added a further 41 for the final four wickets -- Viljoen again starring to complete a 10th career five wicket haul with five for 72.
Farhaan Behardien was his final first-innings victim for 66.
The Lions' second innings was built on a strong 101-opening stand between top-scorer Dominic Hendricks (63) and Stephen Cook (46), before they slipped to 219 all out with Rowen Richards bagging four for 39.
That left a target of 320 and the late show by Viljoen and Morris handed the men from Johannesburg total control.
Meanwhile in East London, the match between the Warriors and Knights appeared to be heading towards a draw with the visitors closing the day on 105 for one in their second innings after the home side were dismissed for 398 earlier, a lead of 74.
Colin Ingram was the mainstay during the Warriors' innings with 79, while there were also handy contributions by Simon Harmer (42) and Andrew Birch (43).
Werner Coetsee was the best bowler for the Knights after claiming four for 123, after which his side reached the close 31 runs ahead for the loss of Dean Elgar (25).
Reeza Hendricks (43) and Rilee Rossouw (32) were together after an unbroken 59-run stand.
Earlier, a terrific spell of seam bowling by Beuran Hendricks led defending champions, the Cape Cobras, to an innings and 98-run victory over the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg.
The left-armer bagged six for 54 and a match haul of nine for 75 as the hosts collapsed from 125 for one at the start to be bundled out for 212 just before lunch under sunny skies at The Oval.
Lance Klusener's men had made a dreadful start to proceedings and initially lost five wickets for just 14 to start the day, including Hendricks landing a double blow in the second over of play.
With his first ball, the 23-year-old sent Divan van Wyk packing for his overnight 52, the opener trapped leg before wicket with what was also his first delivery of the day.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld offered a straightforward catch to Justin Kemp at second slip for a duck five balls later, while Hendricks had his third wicket when Khaya Zondo (41) was also lbw.
Morne van Wyk capped a poor debut for his new side when he was out for a pair after being bowled by Rory Kleinveldt.
Cody Chetty's attempted-pull went horribly wrong as he looped Hendricks gently to Omphile Ramela at mid-on for 7.
Despite an unbeaten 37 from Keshav Maharaj, the rest of the tail folded handing the Dolphins a heavy defeat and Hendricks a career 10th five-wicket haul.
