Dolphins left frustrated

Durban - Mathew Pillans came away with his maiden 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket but the Dolphins were thwarted in their attempt to force a result against the Knights in the Sunfoil Series encounter at Kingsmead.

Pillans claimed four second-innings wickets to add to the six picked up in the first as the Dolphins enforced the follow-on at the start of the final day, only for bad light to stop play with victory in sight.

The Knights were 234 for nine when the players came off the field, which represented a lead of just 16 runs.

The Dolphins remain in third place as a result, but could make up some of the ground by winning the game in hand that they enjoy over the Titans and Lions above them.

As frustrating as the early finish would have been for the Dolphins, credit was also due to Gihahn Cloete (80) and Reeza Hendricks (45) for the positive start that they provided the Knights at the start of the day.

The pair put on 110 for the first wicket, and although Hendricks fell to Keshav Maharaj (3 for 58), the Knights looked well on track to save the game when they went to lunch on 134 for one.

That changed swiftly after the break as Pillans removed Cloete and Tumelo Bodibe in the space of two overs, and then dismissed Shadley van Schalkwyk and Obus Pienaar in his next spell.

In between Calvin Savage (2 for 36) took care of Rudi Second and Maharaj bowled Pite van Biljon (22).

In all the Knights lost five for 15 at one stage and then found themselves on the brink of an innings defeat at 202 for nine, but an unbroken stand of 32 between Malusi Siboto and Quinton Friend moved them into the lead and then hung on long enough for the elements to have the final say.

Pillans ended up with 4 for 62 in the second innings and 10 for 129 in the match.