The Knights and Dolphins ended day two of their 4-Day Franchise Series match at Kimberley with honours even after some resolute batting and determined bowling.
The Knights lost in-form Grant Mokoena (fresh from his 113 against the Cape Cobras at Newlands) after adding just nine runs to his overnight score of 12, leaving the Knights 3-38.
Keegan Petersen and captain Pite van Biljon looked like repeating their fine partnership from Newlands before the former fell for 34 off 89 balls, having added 44 runs for the fourth wicket with his captain. Van Biljon and Patrick Kruger then added 68 for the fifth wicket, but three wickets for five runs left the Knights reeling.
Van Biljon scored a solid 70 off 127 balls (12 fours) and Kruger backed him up with 21 off 39 balls, Senuran Muthusamy taking both wickets as well as that of Shadley van Schalkwyk for two, all in the space of just under five overs.
A superb 52 off 126 balls from Ryan McLaren (five fours) ensured the Knights were able to add 111 runs for the last three wickets, taking them within two runs of the Dolphins’ first innings total.
McLaren added 25 for the eighth wicket with Rudi Second (27 off 48 balls, three fours, one six), followed by a stunning 75-run ninth-wicket stand with Duanne Olivier (31 not out off 96 balls, six fours).
Muthusamy ended with the superb figures of 31.1-4-85-5 (econ 2.72) with Kerwin Mungroo (2-54) and captain Keshav Maharaj (2-73) also among the wickets.
In the 13 overs left for the Dolphins to bat out the Knights struck twice, removing Vaughn van Jaarsveld for 13 off 14 balls (three fours), while Cody Chetty was caught by substitute fielder Andries Gous off Olivier for a single.
With two days left to play and the Dolphins leading by 50 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand, this match is heading towards an enticing finish.
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images
