A powerful display of lower order batting allowed the Knights to declare on 500-8, a lead of 283 over the Lions in their Sunfoil match in Kimberley.
Just 46.2 overs of play were possible in a rain-hit day, but in that time Patrick Kruger marched on from 45 overnight to record his maiden career century, ending with 102 off 175 balls.
He was well supported by Werner Coetsee (59) and by Rudi Second, who had retired hurt on 28, but returned to add another 70 to his total. The rain came down when he was dismissed on 98 by Nono Pongolo who claimed a maiden career five-for by picking up five for 105.
As it became obvious there would be no more play, the Knights declared, desperately seeking their first win of the season.
In Pietermaritzburg, the Dolphins are on a knife-edge against the Cobras. They ended the day on 260-8, a lead of just 195.
The Cobras will be looking to strike early to give themselves a chance to chase a moderate total. Vaughn van Jaarsveld was the mainstay of the innings with 57 but, apart from Morne van Wyk’s 48, no one was able to provide adequate support in the face of a comprehensive bowling display.
There were two wickets apiece for Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Tshepo Moreki and Junaid Dawood, undermining the Dolphins, who had been in a healthy position of 104-1 until the wickets fell in clusters.
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
