The Proteas-heavy Cape Cobras batting line-up couldn’t reach 150, but the unfancied Knights showed that the pitch wasn’t the problem in Friday’s Sunfoil Series action at Newlands.
The Cobras were made to toil in the hot sun as the Knights established a 200-run lead at the end of day two.
After the powerful Cobras batting line-up – which included Proteas Test starters Stiaan van Zyl, captain Hashim Amla and JP Duminy – were shot out for just 146 on Thursday, the unheralded Knights from Bloemfontein put together an impressive 346/5 in 121 overs.
So, while they batted at only 2.85 runs per over, coach Nicky Bojé’s Knights outfit showed the application that was lacking from the Cobras’ big names on day one.
Apart from opener Rudi Second, who was dismissed for two late on Thursday, no other Knights batsman got less than 45. This was in sharp contrast to the Cobras’ innings, where the highest score was Duminy’s 35.
Resuming on 59/1 after 25 overs, overnight batsmen Letlotlo Sesele and Michael Erlank made the Cobras attack work hard in the opening session as they put on a 117-run partnership for the second wicket.
Cobras coach Paul Adams had to make a change to his bowling arsenal after Dane Paterson was called up to the SA A side that will take on England in a tour match in Pietermaritzburg from Sunday.
So Paterson had to withdraw overnight after bowling eight overs on Thursday, when he claimed Seconds’s wicket. Left-arm paceman Beuran Hendricks was drifted in as a replacement, which is allowed under the playing regulations when someone is called up for higher honours during a match.
Hendricks bowled with good pace and bounce, but didn’t get any reward during the 18 overs he delivered on a warm summer’s day.
Instead it was Proteas Test off-spinner Dane Piedt who made the much-needed breakthrough, trapping Sesele lbw just before lunch for 66 (133 balls, 9x4).
Two overs later, right-arm fast-medium bowler Tshepo Moreki made further inroads into the Knights line-up, clean-bowling left-hander Erlank for 45 (149 balls, 6x4).
But the Cobras battled after that as Diego Rosier and Pite van Biljon worked through the hour after lunch without any further drama.
They went steadily about their jobs in a 108-run fourth-wicket stand in just over 30 overs. The Knights looked like they could go all the way through the second session without losing a wicket, but five overs before tea, Piedt got his second wicket of the day when Van Biljon (53 off 98 balls, 6x4) lost concentration and nicked behind to wicket-keeper Keegan Petersen.
Rosier was still going well at the other end, and he was joined by Tumelo Bodibe, who quickly got into his stride after tea. Even after Rosier was dismissed lbw by Moreki with the second new ball for 61 (127 balls, 9x4), Bodibe grew in confidence with captain Werner Coetsee at the other end late in the day.
The 28-year-old reached his 50 off 94 balls (6x4) and ended on 53 not out, while Coetsee was on an unbeaten 45 off 105 balls (5x4).
Piedt kept things tight with a marathon effort of 33 overs, where he bowled eight maidens and took 2/73.
Moreki also captured two wickets, while fellow pacemen Hendricks and Lizaad Williams went wicketless despite bowling with some good pace and bounce.
The home team will hope to take a few quick wickets early on Saturday, whereafter Van Zyl, Amla and Duminy will have to score big runs in the Cobras’ second innings to give their team a chance of making a comeback.
In terms of the national picture, those would be welcome runs ahead of the opening Boxing Day Test against England in Durban.
@IndyCapeSport