At stumps on day three the team from Johannesburg was on 374/7.

The Dragons declared their first innings on 435/6 on day two and at the close of play the Lions were on 77/2.

The star on day three with the bat for the Lions was the Proteas spin-bowler, Bjorn Fortuin, who was on 111 not out when stumps were called. Fortuin batted at close to a run a ball with a strike-rate of 85.38, in a knock which saw eleven fours and two sixes.

Bjorn Fortuin. Photo: Lions

He was well-supported by the in-form wicketkeeper, Connor Esterhuizen, who in turn also hit eleven fours in his innings on 83.

Upfront, the opening batter, Joshua Richards, scored 73, while the in-form and confident Proteas all-rounder, Wiaan Mulder, scored 56.

Ruan de Swardt continued to bowl well on day three and he took two more wickets, that of Khaya Fakude for a duck, and that of the former Dragons all-rounder, Delano Potgieter, for four runs. De Swardt, who has been brilliant with the bat thus far in the season, was on 4/55 after 23 overs.

Delano Potgieter. Photo: Lions

The Lions go into day four at the JB Marks Oval still trailing by 51 runs and this match is likely to end in a draw.

Play in Potchefstroom will resume at 10:00 on Sunday (17/11) with Fortuin and Codi Yusuf being the men at the crease.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg