Farhaan Behardien recorded his eighth first-class century as the Unlimited Titans recovered from a poor start to reach stumps on day one of their rain-affected Sunfoil Series clash against the bizhub Highveld Lions on 285 for seven at Senwes Park.
After winning the toss and batting in the top-of-the-table clash, the visitors found themselves in all sorts of trouble by lunch when they fell to 104 for four.
But Behardien, the stand-in captain, shared in a vital rebuilding stand of 157 with David Wiese (69) that helped them momentarily to seize the initiative.
The fifth-wicket partnership came from just 34 overs with all-rounder Wiese collecting 69, before both set men fell late on a rain-hit day.
There was even time for a third wicket in the last session, meaning the home side held the advantage by the close.
They had been in a solid position after the first session when three wickets by the in-form all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius (4-57) set them back. He included among his wickets two of the Titans’ key men – Heino Kuhn (six) and Theunis de Bruyn (18).
But Behardien and Wiese looked to have weathered the storm by taking their side to 249 for four with less than 10 overs to play.
The returning Hardus Viljoen (2-80) then struck some telling late blows to leave the second-placed Johannesburg side with the edge.