Cricket: Cobras, Knights on track for victories

Cobras and Knights remained in control Saturday after three days of season-opening South African cricket championship matches.

Having amassed 543 runs during the first two days in north-west university town Potchefstroom, it was the turn of Cobras' bowlers to demonstrate their strength as they limited the Lions to 210 runs.

Forced to follow on, the Lions fared better to reach 162-3 at the close of play thanks to undefeated Quinton de Kock (94) and Neil McKenzie (51), leaving the Johannesburg franchise 171 runs behind with seven wickets remaining.

Alistair Gray took three first-innings wickets for the Cape Town-based Cobras and Dane Piedt repeated that feat in 18 second-innings overs that included five maidens.

Knights bowled out title holders Titans for 300 in diamond city Kimberley to build a 155-run first-innings advantage and stretched that lead to 288 after making 133-4 by the close.

Wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn (78 not out), Protea Jacques Rudolph (68) and Roelof van der Merwe (54) were the chief contributors to Titans' total while Ryan McLaren and Quinton Friend captured five wickets each

Ryan Bailey, who hit a career-best 220 for Knights in the opening innings, managed just five runs second time round before being trapped leg before by former South Africa spinner Paul Harris.

Matches

MORE TOP STORIES TODAY