Here's a wrap of Wednesday's third day's play in the opening round of the 4-Day Franchise Series.
Proteas batting class put Titans back into contention
The Titans clawed their way back to inch closer to a victory against the Cape Cobras at Newlands that seemed unlikely on Tuesday.
The Centurion-franchise require another 121 runs to win their opening 4-Day Franchise Series clash after dominating with both bat and ball on day three.
The Titans, bolstered by several Proteas in their line-up, dominated at a windy Newlands as they reached 195/3 at the close of play.
Proteas openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram put on 100 for the first wicket before Cobras paceman Ziyaad Abrahams got his maiden franchise wicket by dismissing Markram (48).
Elgar, who scored a ton in the first innings, continued his fine form, making 58 runs off 90 balls.
Proteas batsman Theunis de Bruyn remains unbeaten on 63 and Sibonelo Makhanya on one but the overriding impression is that much of the Titans' hopes rest on the former.
Earlier in the day, Proteas newcomer Kyle Verreynne made 85 off 182 balls as the Cobras were bundled out for 201 in 78.2 overs.
Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi starred with the ball for the visitors, claiming 4/79. - Lynn Butler
Titans 150 and 195/3 in 60 overs (Dean Elgar 58, Theunis de Bruyn 63*, George Linde 2/64) require 121 runs to win against the Cape Cobras 264/9dec and 201 (Kyle Verreynne 85, Tabraiz Shamsi 4/79).
Dolphins dominate, leaving defending champions in peril
Sarel Erwee fell agonisingly short of equalling his highest first-class score, dismissed for 199 as the Durbanites made hay against the Highveld Lions.
The 30-year-old left-handed was the main protagonist in a record-breaking 344-run stand for the second wicket with Keegan Petersen, the highest for any wicket at Kingsmead.
He was bit more subdued than the previous day but still maintained a relatively fluent strike-rate of 70 in a superb 281-ball stay at the crease.
After Erwee was dismissed, the compact Petersen took over, moving on to 173 before he was castled by Aaron Phangiso's left-arm spin.
Captain Marques Ackerman's attacking, unbeaten 52 carried the Dolphins to 458/3 before he declared.
Keshav Maharaj, the Proteas' first-choice Test spinner, then ridiculed the Lions bowlers' toil on the pitch by grabbing 3/37 in a 17-over spell that has plunged the defending champions into peril.
At 75/3, they still require 125 runs just to make the hosts bat again. - Heinz Schenk
Highveld Lions 258 and 75/3 in 34 overs (Reeza Hendricks 38, Keshav Maharaj 3/37) trail the Dolphins 458/3 dec in 119.3 overs (Sarel Erwee 199, Keegan Petersen 173, Marques Ackerman 52*) by 125 runs
Winning start for Donald looms
Legendary Proteas quick Allan Donald is on the cusp of a victory in his first game in charge of the Knights.
The central franchise require only three more scalps to subdue the Warriors, who managed to stay afloat by instigating a home batting collapse, at the Mangaung Oval.
Chasing quick runs, the Knights got into a tangle, declaring on 93/8 but their stellar first innings effort meant they could still set a target of 366.
A disciplined, collective bowling effort suffocated the men from Port Elizabeth again, who only survived by virtue of opener Matthew Breetzke's 208-ball 71.
Migael Pretorius was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/25. - Heinz Schenk
Warriors 158 and 173/7 in 74 overs (Matthew Breetzke 71*, Migael Pretorius 3/25) require 193 runs to win against the Knights 430/6 dec. and 93/8 dec. in 26.1 overs (Mthiwekaya Nabe 3/21, Marco Jansen 2/28)