van Wyk holds up Lions victory charge

A career-best 158 from Morne van Wyk kept the Eagles in with an outside chance of pulling off a comeback against the Lions although a target of 173 should not provide too many problems on the final day. van Wyk added 143 for the eighth-wicket with Ryan McLaren to help guide the Eagles from 213 for 7 to 381 all out. Garnet Kruger was the pick of the attack with a hard-earned 5 for 114.

The third day at Paarl was low on excitement as an attritional performance from the Cape Cobras produced 192 runs in 96 overs. An unbroken eighth wicket stand of 49 between Vernon Philander and Paul Adams edged them past the follow on after Dale Benkenstein produced a surprising performance with the ball for the Dolphins. The Cape Cobra's early progress was steady as Gerhard Strydom reached 82 before Benkenstein burst through with three quick wickets with his medium pace. Ian Harvey struck a valuable half-century, but Ugasen Govender's three wickets kept the Dolphins in control.

Alviro Petersen and Zander de Bruyn cracked impressive centuries to take the Titans into a first-innings lead against the Warriors at East London. Petersen faced 289 balls before falling to Tyron Henderson but then de Bruyn and Albie Morkel added an unbeaten 110 for the sixth wicket. A draw is the favourite result on a pitch that has been a batsman's paradise.