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Warriors claw their way back

Johannesburg - Bad light put the skids on a ferocious fightback by the Chevrolet Warriors at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday as they reduced the bizhub Highveld Lions to 35 for five in a frenetic second innings on day two of their Sunfoil Series clash.

Having posted 315 all out in their first innings, and then dismissed their visitors for 235, the bizhub Highveld Lions would have been hopeful of building a sizeable lead going into the third day.

But the Chevrolet Warriors had other ideas as Ayabulela Gqamane continued his rich harvest, grabbing three for eight in a three-over burst, with Andrew Birch and Basheer Walters also striking with the new ball.

Birch got the ball rolling, having Stephen Cook gobbled up in the cordon by Ashwell Prince for just two. Walters and Prince then combined for the second time in the match to remove Gulam Bodi, the left-hander departing for a tentative single off 14 balls.

With the openers gone, Gqamane again took centre stage, as he rushed through Neil McKenzie (8), Zander de Bruyn (6) and night watchman Pumelela Matshikwe for a duck.

Temba Bavuma stuck around at the other end amid the collapse, working his way to 17 not out with two boundaries. At the other end was Thami Tsolekile, who is yet to open his account.

Earlier in the day, the bizhub Highveld Lions had resumed on 275 for seven, but lost their last three wickets for the addition of 40 more runs. Tsolekile ended unbeaten on 88 from 140 balls, while Gqamane snared four for 46, and Birch four for 68.

In reply, Christiaan Jonker's 68 off 63 balls lifted the Chevrolet Warriors to 235 as the bizhub Highveld Lions' spinners got into the act quickly. Eddie Leie helped himself to four for 50, while De Bruyn and Imran Tahir took three wickets apiece in the face of some trigger-happy strokeplay by the visitors.

At the end of a frantic second day, which saw 18 wickets tumble and 310 runs scored, the bizhub Highveld Lions lead by 115 runs, but only have five wickets remaining in their second dig.

Teams:

bizhub Highveld Lions: Stephen Cook (capt), Temba Bavuma, Gulam Bodi, Neil McKenzie, Zander de Bruyn, Thami Tsolekile (wk), Eddie Leie, Garnett Kruger, Imran Tahir, Garnett Kruger, Brett Pelser.
Chevrolet Warriors: Davy Jacobs (wk/capt), Michael Price, Ashwell Prince, JJ Smuts, Gurshwin Rabie, Simon Harmer, Andrew Birch, Basheer Walters, Arno Jacobs, Ayabulela Gqamane, Christiaan Jonker.
 
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