The former Proteas wicketkeeper, Gihahn Cloete, led the charge with the bat for the ITEC Knights on day one of their CSA 4-Day series Division 2 game against the Eastern Cape Iinyathi in East London.

The Knights had a bat first at Buffalo Park in their crucial game and managed to score 363-runs before being bowled out.

The opening batter, Nathan Roux, got the Knights off to a reasonable start with a knock of 40-runs.

The in-form Garnett Tarr lost his wicket early for 14-runs, but the allrounder, Dian Forrester, continued his fine season with a rapid 85-runs while batting at three. Forrester struck 12 fours and 3 sixes for his third fifty of the campaign. This took Forrester's tally up to 510-runs for in what is just his five first-class match.

Following Roux's dismal, Cloete joined Forrester at the crease and the pair put on an 85-run partnership for the third wicket.

Cloete went on to score his 12th first-class century by scoring 133-runs off of 160 balls. Cloete hit 21 fours and six in his innings which was the backbone of the Knights innings.

Isaac Dikgale who had been struggling with runs this season chipped in with a very handy knock of 37, while the captain, Patrick Botha, in turn scored 26.

Matthew Fourie was the pick of the home team's bowlers with 4/71 in 18 overs, while Jade de Klerk took 3/91 in 17.2 overs.

At the close of play the Iinyathi were on 38/0 with Jermone Bossr on 18 not out while the captain, Jason Niemand, had scored 11 unbeaten runs.

The Iinyathi still trail the Knights by 325-runs and will resume their first innings at 10:00 on Friday morning.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport