Thursday saw a dramatic day of cricket with 15 wickets falling. By the close of play, the home team would have felt they had the upper hand at St George’s Park.

After losing the toss, the Knights were sent in to bowl first – a decision that paid off immediately. The dangerous Jordan Hermann was bowled out for a duck off just the second ball of the game, courtesy of left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren.

A few overs later, Matthew de Villiers was caught behind off the bowling of Malusi Siboto, leaving the Warriors struggling at 7/2.

Dane Piedt. Photo: Morgan Piek

Jiveshan Pillay with 49 and JP King with 43 then steadied the innings with a crucial third-wicket partnership of 98 runs before King was caught and bowled by Knights captain Dane Piedt.

Despite a solid 35-run contribution from Proteas all-rounder and former Knight, Patrick Kruger, the Warriors lost their remaining wickets for just 66 runs, limping to 171 all out in 65.3 overs.

Johan van Dyk was the Knights’ standout bowler, taking 4/38 in 15.3 overs, while Piedt claimed 2/23 in ten overs, and Van Vuuren finished with 2/47 in 17 overs.

Sensing an opportunity to post a strong first-innings total, the Knights had a shaky start. Big-hitting Jacques Snyman was dismissed for just two off the second ball of the innings by former Knights fast bowler Beyers Swanepoel.

The troubles continued as Lesego Senokwane and Isaac Dikgale both fell cheaply, leaving the Knights reeling at 15/3 after 7.1 overs.

Beyers Swanepoel. Photo: Morgan Piek

Patrick Botha attempted to rebuild the innings with a fighting 31 but was trapped LBW by Swanepoel. Two balls later, the in-form bowler struck again, removing the dangerous all-rounder Dian Forrester for a duck.

By the close of play, the Knights found themselves in deep trouble at 65/5, still trailing the Warriors’ first-innings total by 106 runs, with only half their wickets remaining.

Swanepoel was the Warriors’ standout bowler on day one, finishing with impressive figures of 4/16 in 7.2 overs, while Christopher Kings chipped in with 1/24 in 6 overs.

The Knights will have to keep in mind what is at stake should the lose the game against the Warriors and use this to dig deep, against a team that is under a lot pressure themselves. Play resumes at 10:00 on Friday with Gihahn Cloete 18* and Van Vuuren 1* at the crease, looking to steer the Knights towards a competitive total.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg