Knights in charge at the Bullring

Johannesburg - Duanne Olivier and Malusi Siboto shared six wickets as the title-chasing Highveld Lions were shot out for just 144 by the Knights on day two of their Sunfoil Series clash in Johannesburg on Friday.

By the close, that 144 was looking even smaller for the defending champions as the visitors reached stumps on 95/2, just 49 runs behind in a match that had the first day abandoned due to rain and a wet outfield.

But the Knights wasted little time in making up for lost time when they won the toss at the start of play and opted to bowl first at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.

Apart from Stephen Cook (43), most of the home batsmen struggled as Olivier, who claimed 3/34, and Siboto with 3/35, ran riot.

The Lions had recovered from losing Rassie van der Dussen for a duck early on - trapped lbw by Shadley van Schalkwyk - to reach 66/1.

But from there, they lost their last nine wickets for 78 to be all out in 53.4 overs.

Temba Bavuma (28 not out) and Dominic Hendricks (21) were the only other two men to reach the 20s, while Knights captain Werner Coetsee chipped in with 2/18.

The competition’s leading wicket-taker, Hardus Viljoen, and Pumelela Matshikwe did manage a wicket apiece for the Lions, but Michael Erlank (33) and Rudi Second (29 not out) put their team in the pound seat.

The Lions went into the round seven clash in second place on the table, narrowly behind the Titans, while the Knights were third.