Cape Town - Daryn Smit continued his excellent first-class form this season as he hit his sixth career hundred to keep the Dolphins innings alive after another impressive bowling performance from the Knights at the Diamond Oval.
Although Smit failed in last week’s opening round of Sunfoil Series games, he had major contributions in his previous four long-form games for Kwazulu-Natal, including an unbeaten 156 against North West.
He went to stumps on Sunday unbeaten on 101, with the Dolphins creaking on 262 for nine after winning the toss and electing to bat.
That decision was put into doubt by the Knights pacers, who backed up their brilliant showing against the Cobras last week by reducing the Dolphins to 21 for three and then 89 for five.
Duanne Olivier was the main contributor up front, dismissing Divan van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld, after Dillon du Preez had Imraan Khan caught behind.
The Dolphins rallied through Khaya Zondo and David Miller, who dragged the visitors to lunch on 63 for three, only for Du Preez to strike three balls into the second session when he ended Zondo’s resistance, which saw him bat 85 minutes for his 11.
When Miller fell to Shadley van Schalkwyk half an hour later the Dolphins were in deep trouble, but Smit shored up an end and was supported by Sibonelo Makhanya and Andile Phehlukwayo.
Makhanya made a brisk 25 before being dismissed by Olivier (3 for 49), after which the scoring ground to a halt as Smit and Phehlukwayo dug in.
Their 71-run stand for the seventh wicket ate up 31 overs, with Phehlukwayo contributing 32, before the second new ball did the trick for the Knights as the all-rounder was caught behind off Du Preez (3 for 34).
Mbulelo Budaza then chipped in with two wickets in one over, before Imran Tahir batted out the remaining overs with Smit.