Simon Harmer scored 64 to take the Warriors from 159-7 to 244-7 on day two of their Sunfoil match against the Knights on Friday.
The Warriors put on 159-7 before the Kolpak signee put on an 88 for the eighth wicket with Sisanda Magala (44 not out) to drag his side back into the match.
The Knights resumed day two on 360-5 and only added an extra 71 runs. Patrick Kruger (11) was the first to fall for Sisanda Magala’s second of the match, which brought back captain Thuenis de Bruyn after he retired hurt scoring 31 on day one. He added only seven to that total on day two, when Anrich Nortje picked up the Knights skipper for his only scalp.
Marchant de Lange had a short burst scoring 25 off 22 balls until Basheeru-Deen Walters bagged the all-rounder for his second. Harmer continued his form from day one taking two wickets in three balls to end with figures of 4-90 as the Knights posted 431.
The Warriors struggled to cope with the Knights’ opening pacemen Duanne Oliver (3-61 ) and De Lange (4-66). The pair got their side’s defence off to a good start and picked up seven wickets for the Warriors’ 159 runs. De Lange struck early dismissing Gihahn Cloete for a duck off his second ball bowled. Colin Ackermann put on 23 before he fell for Olivier’s first.
Edward Moore continued to lead from the front while De Lange continued to take wickets, picking up Lesiba Ngoepe (0) and Yaseen Vallie (17) as Moore neared his half-century. The 23-year-old managed to take his team past the 100 mark until he lost his wicket on 56 off 76 balls to Olivier who took his second.
De Lange struck again for his fourth trapping Somila Seyibokwe (11) lbw while Olivier picked up the wicket of Andrew Birch (11) for his third.
Harmer and Magala stuck around until bad light stopped play, the Warriors trailing by 187 with five wickets remaining.
Elsewhere, the Cobras took seven wickets for 81 runs on day two to bundle out the Titans for 195. Jason Smith (2-34) and Lizaad Williams (3-46) both grabbed two wickets while Rory Kleinveldt and Tshepo Moreki both took one apiece. Heinrich Klaasen top scored for the Titans with 52 off 106 balls.
The Cobras got off to a poor start finding themselves on 37-3 after 8.5 overs. Rowan Richards (2-16) and David Wiese (1-13) taking the wickets for their side. Justin Ontong (24 off 47 balls) and Smith (33 off 55 balls) put on 63 for the fourth wicket in 24.5 overs until bad light stopped play, as they ended day two on 100-3.
PHOTO: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
