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Cape Town - Duanne Olivier led a stirring display with the ball to strengthen the Sunfoil Series title prospects of the Knights after they dominated Day 2 against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
The Central franchise, second on the table behind the Titans heading into the final and decisive round of matches, were lethal as they claimed 15 wickets in the day, despite Reeza Hendricks doing his best to thwart them with his 11th career century.
Proteas paceman Olivier took five of the wickets to fall to become the first bowler to take 50 wickets in the season.
He first claimed 2/19 as the hosts were shot out for 87 - their second lowest total against the same opponents in the history of the competition - before returning 3/42 in the Lions’ follow-on innings as they closed on 193/5.
All this had come after the Knights had been bowled out for 443 at the start of day two with Beuran Hendricks finishing as pick of the bowlers with 5/89.
Olivier was one of just four bowlers required when the home side batted first time around and they all fired - Marchant de Lange leading the way with his 3/17, Mbulelo Budaza taking 2/16 and Shadley van Schalkwyk bagging 2/24.
The Lions were all out in just 36 overs with Hendricks again top scoring with 35.
There was much more stability batting second time around after Knights captain Theunis de Bruyn enforced the follow on.
Stephen Cook (42) and Hendricks put on 101 for the opening wicket with the latter getting a free-flowing 112 (138 balls, 16 fours, 1 six).
However, Hendricks was amongst three wickets to fall in the last seven overs leaving the Lions with a mountain to climb in order to avoid defeat.
