Temba Bavuma answered his critics by recording his highest ever career score against the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg.
The Proteas middle-order batsman, who was instructed to go back to domestic cricket and get some runs under his belt, sent out a clear message to Mark Boucher that he is still very much in the frame for the England series.
The table-topping Lions faced the unenviable task of chasing 430 runs and apart from Bavuma, the rest of their batting order was unable to sustain the pressure from Andile Phehlukwayo, Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy.
The Dolphins looked likely to cash in on the vital log points on offer but Bavuma dug a line in the ground and was defiant in his quest to justify his selection for the fourth Test at his home ground, the Wanderers.
Bavuma brought up his century off the bowling of Subrayen with a slog sweep in front of square that rolled to the boundary for four runs.
It took him 153 balls, 233 minutes (16×4, 0x6) as the Lions looked to fight for the final two sessions to salvage a draw going into lunch at 194-7. He ended on 106 not out by lunch.
He later passed his previous best first-class score (162 for SA A vs Australia) to continue the fight in the most difficult of circumstances.
But Bavuma lost his wicket on 180 to Muthusamy.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
