Johannesburg – A century from Roelof van der Merwe and two wickets from Rowan Richards ensured the Titans had every chance of victory after the third day of their domestic four-day clash against the log-leading Knights in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The visitors declared their second innings on 367 for seven to set their hosts a massive 549 victory target with Van der Merwe the catalyst thanks to his aggressive 121 from 144 deliveries, just the second ton of his first-class career.
However, the Knights were fighting by the close with Rudi Second (76) and Pite van Biljon (73) sharing an unbeaten 138-run stand to take them to 180 for three, although still a mammoth 369 away from victory.
Resuming on 115 for three, the Titans all-rounder was aided by his captain Farhaan Behardien (83) during a 171-run fourth-wicket partnership, while David Wiese clubbed one six and seven fours in a quick-fire 50 off 48 balls.
The quick progress of their innings enabled Behardien to declare and they immediately put the log leaders under pressure when Richards (2-43) and Marchant de Lange (1-40) struck in the fourth and fifth overs to leave the home side on 13 for two.
Richards struck again in the 12th over as the Knights slipped to 42 for three, before Second and Van Biljon stepped in.
Elsewhere on Saturday, George Linde bagged four for 60 to leave the clash between the Cape Cobras and Highveld Lions delicately poised heading into the final day in Cape Town.
Having resumed on 214 for four, home captain Justin Ontong and Dane Vilas both fell agonisingly short of centuries Ä falling for 94 and 89 respectively – as the defending champions were dismissed for 306.
Dwaine Pretorius (3-34) and Eddie Leie (3-82) were the pick of the Lions' bowlers, before the their batsmen battled second time of asking and reached the close on 166 for seven, a lead of 273.
Neil McKenzie, who made 125 in the first innings, top-scored with 44, but the rest of his team-mates faltered, four of them falling to Linde, leaving every result possible at Newlands.
Finally in Pietermaritzburg, Ryan McLaren struck a century on debut for the Dolphins in their match against the Warriors at the City Oval where only 53.4 overs were possible due to bad light.
The Proteas all-rounder plundered 121 not out from 179 balls, his fourth career ton in his first game since moving from the Knights in the winter, as the hosts were bowled out for 370 shortly before lunch.
That gave them a lead of 17, and by the time the players left the field 25 minutes before tea, Michael Price (42) and Ryan Bailey (14) shared an unbroken 53-run stand to take their side to the close on 75 for two - a lead of 58.
However, that advantage would have been far greater had McLaren not played his hand. He had walked to the crease on Friday afternoon with his side on 169 for seven and instead added 201 with the last three wickets.
That included 64 with Imran Tahir (33) and 72 with Craig Alexander (11) on the third morning as the match was left evenly poised.– Sapa