Tshepo Moreki and Nandre Burger dent Knights' four-day final prospects

Tshepo Moreki and Nandre Burger claimed four wickets apiece before an unbeaten half-century by Pieter Malan dealt a major blow to the Knights’ prospects of reaching the Four-Day Domestic Series final after a difficult day one against the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Tuesday.

After winning the toss and batting at Newlands‚ the visitors were bowled out for just 181 as Moreki claimed 4/54 and fellow seamer Burger grabbed 4/64.

Opener Malan then struck 51 off 96 balls (six fours‚ two sixes) to ensure the home side completed a strong day in control on 84/1, trailing by only 97.

It was a bitter blow to the Central Franchise‚ who narrowly topped Pool A from the Dolphins heading into the final round of round-robin fixtures. They will now need to bounce back strongly on day two to keep alive their chances of reaching next week’s five-day final.

For the Cobras‚ their start to the game raised hopes of a first win of what has been a winless campaign thus far.

Their bowlers impressed from the outset after reducing the Knights to 36/4 inside the first 13 overs — Jason Smith (2/19) claiming two of those wickets‚ along with Burger and Moreki‚ who removed the free-scoring Jacques Snyman for 26.

Patrick Kruger (24) then helped rebuild as the visitors progressed to 82‚ before another flurry of wickets saw them slump to 112/8.

Among those to fall during that collapse was top-scorer Raynard van Tonder (47). Duan Jansen (23) and Alfred Mothoa (34) at least helped their side by putting on 46 for the ninth wicket‚ but they were all out in 63.4 overs.

Jansen (1/17) then claimed the early wicket of Isma-eel Gafieldien (2)‚ before Malan and Zubayr Hamza (29*) put on 73 to take the Cobras to stumps in control.