Titans seam bowler Rowan Richards and all-rounder Albie Morkel put in the early work to leave the Cape Cobras reeling on the first day of their SuperSport Series match in Paarl on Thursday.
The Titans were only 42 runs behind with seven wickets in hand in their first innings when stumps were drawn.
Veteran skipper Martin van Jaarsveld was unbeaten on 69, guiding the visitors to 157 for three.
The Cobras had earlier been bundled out for 199 runs after they won the toss and chose to bat.
Proteas all-rounder Morkel had got the initial breakthrough, taking two wickets in the first over of the match.
Morkel also removed opener Yaseen Vallie to have the hosts reeling at 27 for three, but the seamer was stopped in his tracks after delivering 7.5 overs.
He hurt his wrist and was taken to hospital, though he confirmed afterwards he was not seriously injured, just weeks before South Africa leave for a tour of New Zealand.
“Xray shows no fracture - Shoew!” Morkel posted on Twitter, along with a photo of his swollen arm.
Richard Levi attempted to hold up the Cobras’ middle order, smashing 54 runs from 71 deliveries, but the home side struggled to stabilise the innings as left-armer Richards tore through their line-up.
Richards pocketed his fifth five-wicket haul, returning five for 49.
Tail-ender Robin Peterson put up a late fight, hitting 58 off 49-balls, but spinner Paul Harris removed the tail midway through the afternoon session.
Elsewhere, in Durban, middle-order batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld and captain Imraan Khan laid the foundation as the Dolphins produced a solid first-innings display against the Warriors, with the hosts reaching 269 for five at the close after winning the toss.
Khan played a patient knock, holding the innings together for the first two sessions.
The opener was at the crease for more than four hours, contributing 92 runs from 206-balls before spin bowler Simon Harmer had him caught by Ashwell Prince.
Van Jaarsveld then built on the skipper’s momentum, compiling his 10th career first-class century.
The 26-year-old faced 178-balls for his 106 runs, but Harmer eventually had him caught behind with only 20 balls left in the day’s play.
Harmer, 22, also removed dangerman David Miller to keep the visitors in contention.
The spinner bowled a mammoth 32 overs, including 11 maidens, and took three for 69.
Seamer Andrew Birch had done a lot of the early work, bagging the scalps of top-order batsmen Divan van Wyk and Daryn Smit for a return of two for 49.
In Johannesburg, on an opening day that swung back and forth, the Knights pulled off a recovery to reach 250 for 7 against the Highveld Lions.
The Knights got off to a good start after winning the toss, anchored by a 48-run innings from opener Michael Erlank as they reached 121 for the loss of only one wicket shortly after lunch.
A dramatic middle-order collapse, however, put the Lions firmly in control.
Pumelela Matshikwe and Chris Morris combined in a superb effort, taking two scalps each as the visitors lost four wickets for only one run.
With the early accolades going one way, the Knights’ stubborn lower order managed to hit back as they all produced valuable contributions, leaving matters square when stumps were drawn.
Werner Coetsee was on 34 not out and Johan van der Wath was unbeaten on 29. – Sapa