Potgieter central to Lions victory

Middle-order batter Delano Potgieter delivered in both innings, leading a remarkable comeback from the Lions, as they clinched a 99-run win over Western Province on a thrilling final day of the CSA Four-Day Series final at the Wanderers yesterday.

With a target of 308 runs to win in a day-and-a-half, Province looked set to take it down to the wire, but they were ultimately bowled out for 208 in the second session of the final day’s play yesterday.

They just didn’t have enough of a response to the Lions bowling line-up, with spinner Bjorn Fortuin taking 5/69.

Faced with a mountain to climb over the last three days, with an 87-run first innings deficit, the Lions did well to dig their heels in, with Potgieter shining yet again in their second innings, as he bashed a career best 155 not out off 244 deliveries, leading the hosts to a second-innings total of 394.

After the Lions lost the toss and were sent in to bat on day one, they suffered a top-order collapse, losing their first five wickets for just 35 runs as seamer Dane Paterson led an assault with the ball.

But it was Potgieter who stabilised the Lions’ middle order in that first innings effort, helping them recover to 225 in the final session on day one by contributing 81 off 86 balls.

Paterson took 5/31 and Mihlali Mpongwana 4/41.

In response, most of the WP top order made contributions, led by Gavin Kaplan and Daniel Smith, who each hit 60 runs. posting 312. But they struggled to build big partnerships against a persistent Lions bowling attack, Tshepo Moreki (5/65) taking his first five-wicket haul.