Hashim Amla has been key to my development, Wiaan Mulder reflects, as Lions trail by 112 runs after Day Two of the Four-Day Series final

Wiaan Mulder identifies working with Lions batting coach Hashim Amla as the main reason for his development as an all-rounder, as he led the Lions' fight back on Day Two of the ongoing Cricket SA Four-Day Series final clash against the Warriors at the Bullring. 

Two days into the final, the Warriors have been the most dominant team, having set 305 in the first innings, with JP King (123) and Jordan Hermann (110) leading from the front with the bat. 

At stumps on Day Two, the Warriors had the Lions on 193/7, 112 runs behind with three wickets remaining, and reeling at home as the Gqeberha-based unit asserted their dominance. 

Warriors fast bowler Matthew Boast (5/35), having been in fine form throughout the season, picked up a five-wicket haul, helping the Warriors stay ahead in the contest. 

Throughout the Warriors' dominance, Lions and Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has led the fight back, taking 3/48 with the ball, and scoring 57 off 85 with the bat, as he starred for the hosts. 

Throughout the season, be it in the Four-Day Series or in Test cricket, Mulder has taken his game up a notch and has shown remarkable maturity in his skillset. 

The 28-year-old highlighted the Lions' batting coach, Hashim Amla, as one of the people behind his recent success.  

"I've done quite a bit of work. Most of my growth, I'd say, has come from being back at the Lions with Hash; he's encouraged me to present the full face of the bat and play as straight as possible and actually be able to see where my defences and my drives are going and being able to hit the ball past the stumps more often," Mulder told Independent Media. 

"That's been the main focus point in my batting to try and be able to get into better positions, stay a bit more balanced, not cut across the ball and that type of thing.

"Similarly with the ball, I think I lost my swing for a bit. I wasn't able to have my wrist behind the ball consistently, and that was something I've worked on really hard over the last year to try and get the swing back, and be able to swing the ball in and away from the right-hander or left-hander.

"That just makes me effective. I think, at my pace, if you don't have a moving ball, especially with a hard ball, the batters will kind of lean on you. So that's been a big learning for me."

Going into Day Three, the Lions will be pushing to score as many runs as possible and eat away at the deficit. 

On the other hand, the Warriors bowlers will be looking to get the remaining three wickets as early as possible and unleash the in-form opening pair of Hermann and Modiri Litheko to have a bat. 

Day Two Scorecard 

Warriors: 305 all out (JP King 123; Wiaan Mulder 3/48)
Lions: 193/7 (Wiaan Mulder 57; Matthew Boast 5/35)

The Lions trail by 112 runs