Raynard van Tonder recorded the second double century of the season before three wickets by the Knights put them on top at the halfway stage of their top-of-the-table 4-Day Domestic Series encounter with the Titans in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old scored a superb 204 (360 balls, 21 fours, 1 six) – his maiden franchise double ton – and was aided by Wandile Makwetu’s career-best 99 (176 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) as the hosts amassed 541-7 declared, before reducing the visitors to 75-3 at the close.
That gave them a 466-run lead at the halfway stage at the Mangaung Oval, with Van Tonder the undoubted star against the table-toppers from Centurion.
The former South Africa U19 captain, batting in the unfamiliar role of opener, also became the first batsman to cross the 500-run mark this season, with his tally now up to 546 in just six innings at the remarkable average of 109.20.
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He began day two not out on 172 and batted for the first hour, before eventually falling after a total of eight hours in the middle. His double century followed that of his captain, Pite van Biljon, in round two.
It was then left to another former SA U19 star in Makwetu to lead the way, and, even though he fell agonisingly short of three figures on debut for the Knights, it was still an innings that helped drive the Titans further out of the game.
The 20-year-old, playing against the franchise he left in the off-season, added 151 for the seventh wicket alongside fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, who ended up recording his maiden red-ball half-century – a score of 59 not out (83 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes).
The end of that partnership prompted the declaration after 157.3 overs, with Matthew Arnold the best of the bowlers with 3-65.
In response, Victor Mahlangu (28) and Wesley Marshall (31) put on a solid 55 for the opening wicket. But they were dismissed by Patrick Kruger (1-8) and Shaun von Berg (1-8) respectively, with Coetzee (1-31) taking out Neil Brand (2) in between as the Titans slipped to 67-3.
By the end Heinrich Klaasen (8) was fending off the Knights, with nightwatchman Junio Dala (0) alongside him.
Photo: BackPagePix
