A rugged fightback by the Cobras’ lower order effectively killed any idea the Knights would take command of their Sunfoil match in Oudtshoorn.
Kyle Verreynne at No 7, fought his way to 85 off 170 balls, while Dane Piedt at 8, knocked up 62 off 120. Together they put on 105 for the seventh wicket as the Cobras battled to match the Knights’ first offering of 489-5.
The ‘hosts’, playing at the slightly foreign climes of Oudtshoorn, were bowled out for 447, but when bad light stopped play early the Knights had managed only three runs, a lead of 45 runs going into the final day.
Marchant de Lange and Ottniel Baartman ended with three wickets apiece.
Once again it seems all three Sunfoil matches will end in draws, and while the weather has played a part, the force is still with the batsmen.
Bad light may have made a decisive contribution as the Titans tried to put themselves into a winning position. They bowled the Warriors out for 261, notwithstanding the best efforts of Jon-Jon Smuts, who added 40 to his overnight score of 23.
With a first-innings lead of 60, they pushed hard for a defendable lead. Despite the loss of Jonathan Vandiar (23) and Tony de Zorsi (12) to Simon Harmer’s spin, AB de Villiers was well set, smashing 32 off 26 balls (5×4), alongside Heinrich Klaasen (23 off 22). They had reached 92 when bad light and rain stopped play.
In Pietermaritzburg, the Highveld Lions declared on their overnight total of 277-7, but the Dolphins were allowed just 74 overs to make an impact. They were not able to get going, as Aaron Phangiso took wickets regularly. Only Vaughn van Jaarsveld, with his 52 off 74 could reach the strike rate needed to make a game of it. Stumps were drawn with the Dolphins on 185-6 in the first innings.
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
