The Lions dismissed the Warriors cheaply to take charge of their CSA four-day encounter at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday.
The Joburg side needed the tail to post a decent first innings total of 291 runs all-out, but they hit the ground running on the second day. The new ball pairing of Kwena Maphaka (3/24) and Cody Yusuf (2/11) ripped through the top and middle order of the Warriors, reducing them to 15/5 in the seventh over.
The Eastern Cape side never quite recovered from their poor start, and they were bowled out for a below par 94, with Sinethemba Qeshile’s fighting knock of 38 putting some respect into the visitors score.
Tsepo Moreki continued his good form in the tournament, and his figures of 3/17 were the best on the day. The Lions were 214/8 at stumps, and they will go into day three with a lead of 411 with two wickets still remaining.
Meanwhile, the Knights fought back against the Dolphins and have made inroads into the visitors huge score on the second day of their clash at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The Dolphins added 196 to their overnight score and declared their innings on 570 to hand the home side a tough task of chasing the score down. Bryce Parsons scored his third first-class career century before he was bowled by Dian Forrester on 118.
There were useful contributions down the order from Romashan Pillay (81), Darryn Dupavillion (41) and Andile Simelane (50).
In response, the Knights ended the day on 157/2, and they trailed the Dolphins by 413 runs with eight wickets still in hand. The home side lost two quick wickets of Gerrit Snyman (81) and Gihahn Cloete (six), but they will have Lesego Senokoane set on an unbeaten 65 when play resumes on day three.
Elsewhere, the North West Dragons trailed the Boland Rocks by 371 runs at the end of day two of their clash at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
Matthew Kleinveldt (121*) helped the home side to a score of 223/1 at stumps with an unbeaten century and, together with Lesiba Ngoepe (45), will attempt to make inroads into the total when play resumes on Saturday.
Earlier, the Rocks added 167 runs to their overnight score before they declared the innings on 594/6. Grant Roelofsen scored a career-best first-class score of 240, but needing nine wickets in a seemingly good wicket for batting, the Knights will need a few breakthroughs early on day three if they want to add to their one win this season.