Knights stay in touch with Lions

Kimberley - Some strong lower-order resistance helped the Knights just about stay in touch with the Highveld Lions after day two of their Sunfoil Series clash at the Diamond Oval on Friday.

Luthando Mnyanda top-scored with 46, but there were also important contributions from Jandre Coetzee (42), Werner Coetsee (36) and Malusi Siboto (32) as the hosts were dismissed for 221 in reply to 264.

It left them 43 runs behind, and by the close, the visitors had reached 18 for none - a lead of 61.

But it could have been worse for the Knights, who started the day by taking the final three wickets of the Lions for just 20. That was mainly due to a career-best haul of seven for 38 by Tumi Masekela, whose figures were also the best between the two teams in the franchise era, surpassing the 6-40 by Dillon du Preez back in the 2007/08 season.

But the home team were mainly poor in reply and slipped to five for 52, before mounting their recovery.

The sixth-wicket pair of Mnyanda and Coetsee added 65, before Siboto and Coetzee added 73 for the eighth wicket. There was also 30 put on for the seventh wicket by Coetsee and Mnyanda.

Dwaine Pretorius (3-35) and Sean Jamison (3-62) were the pick of the bowlers for the away side.