Knights in control against Lions
by Bruno Dunn 01 February 2013, 18:16
The Chevrolet Knights were in a dominant position at the close of day two of their Sunfoil Series match against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Friday. The home side are 39 for one in their second innings, with a lead of 168.
The Knights had a near perfect day, bowling the Lions out for 219, gaining a lead of 129. But they lost a wicket with their first delivery of their second innings when Chris Morris trapped Rudi Second in front for a duck. Rilee Rossouw (25) and Gihahn Cloete (12) saw the home side to the close of play.
The Lions opening pair of Stephen Cook and Dominic Hendricks provided a great start in their pursuit of the Knights first innings total of 348 when they reached their 50 partnership in a steady 84 deliveries, but the Lions captain was removed by Shadley van Schalkwyk for 28 just before the lunch interval, where the Lions found themselves 62 for one.
Post lunch, the Knights bowlers came out firing, and wickets started to tumble. Temba Bavuma was first to go for two when he was bowled by Dillon du Preez and he was followed by Hendricks, who was caught by Coetsee off the bowling of Van Schalkwyk for 34. The Lions were 70 for three at that stage,
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, firstly, Zander de Bruyn fell for 11, then Thami Tsolekile for six, followed by Brett Pelser for 18. The Lions were in all sorts of trouble with their score on 145 for six.
The one hope for the Lions, was that the ever consistent, Neil McKenzie was in fine form, but that form came to an end when the 37 year-old edged a Johan Van der Wath delivery and was caught behind for 40.
Cliffe Deacon (17) and Hardus Viljoen (5) fell is quick succession thanks to a great Malusi Siboto spell, and with the Lions 178 for nine, they were still 170 runs behind. Imran Tahir strode to the wicket and number 11 and was immediately aggressive. He smashed his way to 36 from 26 delivers before he was caught by Rossouw from a Van der Wath delivery.
Van der Wath finished with three for 55 in 16 overs and Siboto claimed three for 54 in 17 overs.
The Knights posted a daunting total 348 thanks to 80 from Rossouw, 78 from Werner Coetsee and 54 from Cloete.
Report Day 1
CHEVROLET KNIGHTS: RS Second (wk), GL Cloete, JJ van der Wath (capt), RR Rossouw, RT Bailey, AJ Pienaar, P Botha, WL Coetsee, D du Preez, MP Siboto, SC van Schalkwyk
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: SC Cook (capt), DA Hendricks, T Bavuma, ND McKenzie, Z de Bruyn, TL Tsolekile (wk), WA Deacon, BJ Pelser, CH Morris, GC Viljoen, Imran Tahir
