Paarl - The Highveld Lions were fighting to save their Sunfoil Series clash against the Cape Cobras after day three in Paarl on Saturday.
This despite a 35th career century by the in-form Stephen Cook. The veteran opener made 118 from 260 balls, his second successive ton, before becoming one of five victims of veteran slow left-armer, Robin Peterson.
The former Proteas all-rounder grabbed five for 62 as the Lions were dismissed for 252, a massive deficit of 318 as they were made to follow on.
They then reached stumps on 83 for three the second time of asking with Cook amongst those to fall for 19. But Rassie van der Dussen was still there, unbeaten on 40 with the visitors still 235 runs away from making their hosts bat again.
Tshepo Moreki (2-18) had taken the first two wickets to fall, while the other wicket was taken by Peterson, whose earlier spell had rocked the Gauteng side as they looked comfortably placed to bat out the game.
Van der Dussen and Cook shared an opening stand of 148 that was eventually broken when the former was trapped leg before wicket by Dane Paterson (2-40) for 68.
Dominic Hendricks (46) made the only other meaningful contribution as the other eight batsmen made single figure scores, including five ducks. In a spectacular collapse, the Lions fell from 235 for two to 252 all out - a loss of eight wickets for 17 runs.