Rudi Second smashed a superb double hundred as the Knights took control of their match against the Cobras in Oudtshoorn on Saturday.
He moved on effortlessly from 119 overnight to reach 203 off 231 balls, with 30 fours. He and Werner Coetsee had put on 156 for the fifth wicket and contributed massively to the total of 489-5 declared.
The in-form wicketkeeper now has 387 runs in three innings – twice unbeaten – for a remarkable average of 387.00.
Then the hosts’ reply was hit by Ottniel Baartman, who took the wickets of Andrew Puttick (19) and Zubayr Hamza (29) to stall the innings at 93-3. Justin Ontong and Aviwe Mgijima put on 109 to steady the ship before Ontong fell to Budaza for 64, and Baartman snapped up his partner for 63. The Cobras ended on 281-5.
Kyle Verreynne (42) and Simon Khomari (29) had an unbroken 72-run sixth-wicket stand to hold up the Knights at the halfway stage.
Malusi Siboto’s superb spell of 2-11 in 12 overs undermined the Warriors’ fightback after they had bowled out the Titans for 321 in Benoni early on Saturday.
They had been on the back foot when restricted to 2-6, but Colin Ackermann (54) and Yaseen Vallie (64 off 86 balls) battled hard to rescue the situation. Vallie fell to Shaun von Berg when they reached 118, and Siboto then removed Jerry Nqolo (0) and Ackermann. Bad light stopped play early, with the Warriors on 158-5, trailing by 163.
Earlier, the Titans lost their last three wickets for 11 runs, with Anrich Nortje ending with two for 49. Simon Harmer, playing his first match after helping Essex in the County Championship, continued his great form, taking four for 99.
In Pietermaritzburg, an unbeaten 70 by Wiaan Mulder highlighted a gloomy day as the Highveld Lions laboured to 277-7 against the Dolphins.
Only 26 overs were sent down, as a combination of drizzle and bad light meant that the visitors added only 75 to their overnight score of 202-5. Mulder’s 146-ball innings included five fours as he helped Rassie van der Dussen, who made 75 (188 balls, 10 fours), to add 110 for the sixth wicket.
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
