Faf du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien both hit centuries on day two of the latest round of SuperSport Series matches to help the Titans come back strongly against the Knights and reach 416 for five by the close in Bloemfontein.
After the Knights made 438 on day one they came out strongly at the start of the second day when they claimed three early wickets.
The Titans, however, fought back after solid displays from Heino Kuhn (75), Behardien (140 not out) and Du Plessis (153) to close the deficit to 22 at stumps.
Dillon du Preez (two for 84) took two of the wickets during the early passages of play, helping reduce the visitors to 44 for three.
But they rebuilt via a 100-run stand between Kuhn and Behardien, before the wicketkeeper fell to Dean Elgar.
That brought Du Plessis to the wicket and the in-form batsman was in fine shape before he was out with the last ball of the day.
Behardien was still there and will look to build a lead with the tail on Saturday.
In Cape Town, the Lions were staring an innings defeat in the face after two wickets each from Rory Kleinveldt and Robin Peterson left them reaching stumps in their second innings on 146 for seven.
The Lions, who were dismissed for a woeful 86 first time around, were batting in their second innings after the hosts were bowled out for 341.
Justin Ontong, resuming on his overnight total of 100, ended with 146 and shared a 142 run partnership with Proteas batsman JP Duminy (63).
Kleinveldt also shone with the bat as he blasted 40 from 39
balls to hand his side a huge 255 lead, with Shane Burger (four for 75) and Pumelela Matshikwe (four for 67) ending with eight wickets between them.
The Lions, however, were again poor with the bat and after 37
runs were added by Dominic Hendricks (13) and Stephen Cook (18) for the first wicket, the wheels seemed to come off.
Kleinveldt claimed two for 27 and Peterson took two for 25, while Beuran Hendricks, Johann Louw and JP Duminy clinched a wicket each.
Only an unbroken 52 run eighth-wicket stand between Dale Deeb (33) and Cliffie Deacon (19) held up the Cobras from a third win of the season.
Finally in Port Elizabeth, Friedel de Wet hit a career-best 73
as nightwatchman, but it was the only major positive for the Dolphins as they were bowled out for 223 in reply to the Warriors’ first-innings 295.
Proteas pair Rusty Theron (three for 57) and Wayne Parnell (three for 17) took six wickets between them, before their batsmen reached the close on 142 for two, an overall lead of 214.
The Dolphins resumed at the start of the day on 38 for one, but lost wickets at regular intervals.
Their main partnership was between De Wet and David Miller (39), after they put on 80.
However, once that was ended, the Dolphins conceded a 73-run deficit.
Kelly Smuts (49) and Bevan Bennett (32) put on 49 for the first wicket, before a further 66 between Jon-Jon Smuts (49 not out) and his brother helped the Warriors reach the close with a handsome lead. - Sapa