Delano Potgieter kept the Central Gauteng Lions' hopes of winning the 4-Day Domestic Series final alive with an unbeaten 89 at Wanderers on Friday.
The Lions rallied from 113-6 to close the third day of the five-day match on 282-8, 195 runs ahead of Western Province.
Potgieter, who scored 81 in the Lions' first innings, received excellent support from Bjorn Fortuin (42) and Codi Yusuf (7*).
Earlier, nightwatchman Tshepo Moreki scored 57 runs, while Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma followed a first-innings duck with a useful 45.
But Zubayr Hamza (17) and Ryan Rickelton (10) again fell for the Lions.
Most of the damage with the ball came from WP pace bowlers Dane Paterson (3-43) and Mthiwekhaya Nabe (3-59).