Port Elizabeth - The Knights' decision to recharge their bowling attack at the end of a long season reaped dividends on Friday as the three fresh seamers in their ranks bowled the Warriors out for 145 at Buffalo Park.
Corne Dry, Dillon du Preez and Bokang Mosena were all called into the Knights side ahead of the Sunfoil Series fixture in order to give Malusi Siboto, Quinton Friend and Shadley van Schalkwyk a rest, and the trio grabbed eight wickets to turn the game on its head.
The Knights went into the field under pressure after being bowled out for just 223 in their first innings, but showed that there was plenty in the pitch for the bowlers as they dismissed the Warriors inside 72 overs and denied them a single batting bonus point.
The visitors had gone into the second day on 183 for seven after a weather-hit first day, and although it took the Warriors bowlers 21 overs to wrap up the innings, there was little damage done on the scoreboard.
Rudi Second added just three runs to his overnight total before he was caught behind off the bowling of Sisanda Magala, while Basheeru-Deen Walters (4 for 56) and Andrew Birch (3 for 42) grabbed another wicket each to boost their figures.
The day's major drama was to come, as the Warriors slumped to 48 for four at the start of their innings, and lost their last five wickets for just 25 runs.
Although there was some resistance, with Somila Seyibokwe batting two and a quarter hours for his 19 and Darryl Brown lasting two and a half to top score with 39, none of the Warriors batsmen was able to counter-attack.
Du Preez finished with 3 for 13 and Dry took 2 for 47, but perhaps the best find was Mosena, who grabbed 3 for 15 in his only spell of the day.
The Knights lost Gihahn Cloete at the start of their second innings to go to stumps on six for one, but will start the third day leading by 84 runs.
Sapa