The Knights are five wickets away from winning their first Sunfoil Series title since 2007-08.
With the Knights and the Titans desperate for a win in a two-horse race for the title, it’s the Knights who have placed themselves in pole position in an exhilarating day of Sunfoil Series action.
The Titans had a dreadful start against the Lions on day two. After being 48-2 after day one, the Titans slumped to 83-7 by the 37th over, and that did irreparable damage to their hopes of defending their title.
The only plus side was Shaun von Berg’s century. The leg-breaker hit 103 off 121 balls to help take the Titans to a first-innings lead. Harmer picked up Von Burg for his third wicket and ended the Titans’ innings by claiming the wicket of Rowan Richards (20) for his fourth, which handed the Titans a 40-run lead.
The Warriors got off to a good start putting on 51 before the fall of the first wicket. Alfred Mothoa bowled Edward Moore for 29 to bring Colin Ackermann to the crease. Gihahn Cloete (49) was the next to fall as Von Berg continued his great form, as the Warriors ended day two on 95-2.
The Titans needed at least 315 runs in the first innings to keep themselves above the Knights. That’s because the Knights blasted an excellent 435 from their first 100 overs, allowing them to push ahead of the Titans in the log, based on the bonus points they accumulated in this match. Subsequently, the Knights rolled over the Lions for 87, allowing them to close in on victory.
The Lions, following on after that 87, were led by Stephen Cook and Reeza Hendricks. Cook fell on 42 to Duanne Olivier (3-42), leaving Hendricks on his own to save his side. Hendricks batted well as his partners fell away. Dominic Hendricks reached 16 before falling to Shadley van Schalkwyk (1-32) for his only scalp. Then Olivier picked up two more to go to 50 wickets for the season, before Marchant de Lange (1-59) picked up danger man Hendricks (117) as they ended day one on 193-5, with the Knights needing only five more wickets to pull off a sensational, title-winning victory.
Elsewhere, the Cobras added to their overnight total of 298-6, to end their innings on 381 against the Dolphins. Aviwe Mgijima hit 52 to help push the Cobras forward as the rest of his side collapsed. Senuran Muthusamy picked up three wickets to take his tally to 5-67 to claim his first five-wicket haul.
After being 5-2 after 2.2 overs thanks to a double from Rory Kleinveldt, the Dolphins chased well thanks to Divan van Wyk (48). Runs were starting to flow until Smith picked up a brace dismissing Zondo (17), followed by Van Wyk (48) in the 23rd over. Sibonelo Makhanya (6) did not hang around long as Lizaad Williams struck to bring the Dolphins to 88-5 (27.3).
Daryn Smit (95 not out) and Calvin Savage (40) saved their side, putting 115 for the sixth wicket, before Savage lost his scalp for Williams’ second. The Dolphins will continue day three on 237-6 with Robbie Frylinck (20) looking to put on a partnership with Smit.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
