Moore and Ackermann put Warriors in the lead

Cape Town - Half-centuries by Eddie Moore and Colin Ackermann put the Warriors in control at the halfway stage of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Knights in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The hosts ended day two at St George’s Park on 329 for seven after earlier bowling out the visitors for 279, meaning they went to stumps with a 50-run advantage.

Anrich Nortje also rounded off another wonderful display with figures of six for 66, his fourth career five-for, with the Central Franchise adding just three to their overnight total for the loss of two wickets. They had started out the morning on 276 for eight, before Lutho Sipamla (3/63) removed the set Ryan McLaren first up for 76.

Nortje then accounted for Ottniel Baartman (1) as the Knights were dismissed in 94.3 overs.

Moore led the reply with the bat as he struck a free-flowing 75 off 80 deliveries (14 fours). He put on 76 for the opening wicket with Gihahn Cloete (16), before adding 45 with top-scorer Ackermann, who followed his century in the last game by hitting 79 (157 balls, 11 fours).

No one else managed to cross 50, but there were still more than handy 40s from captain Jon-Jon Smuts (44) and Sinethemba Qeshile (40 not out), with 36 also coming from the bat of Clyde Fortuin.

The best of the visiting bowlers was Tshepo Ntuli with two for 53, with Duanne Olivier (2/93) and Baartman (2/59) also managing double strikes.