BLOEMFONTEIN – An unbeaten 95 by Henry Davids ensured the Titans gave the Knights a minimal advantage on day three of their Sunfoil Series encounter at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The veteran right-hander was left stranded five short of his ton after striking 12 fours and six in his 172-ball innings when the visitors were bowled out for 345 in response to the 363 of the hosts.
That gave them a lead of 18, which was stretched to 138 by the close when the defending champions ended the day on 120/2.
Theunis de Bruyn was not out on 57 (93 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) and Keegan Petersen (27) at the other end, leaving the home side with a slight advantage but only a day in the game to play.
The Titans had resumed overnight on 210/5 and needed Davids to control their lower order with his experience.
There was not much in terms of support – Shaun von Berg (16) and Eldred Hawken (12) – as Duanne Olivier ended with 4/78.
Spinner Von Berg then took two early wickets to leave the Knights on 37/2, before the unbroken De Bruyn-Petersen third-wicket stand of 83 led the recovery.