Half-centuries by Andries Gous and Pite van Biljon, followed by some hard-working bowling, helped the Knights close in on victory over the Warriors after the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in East London on Wednesday.

The home side went to stumps at Buffalo Park on 99-3 and still needing 122 to make the visitors bat again.

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Captain Van Biljon led the way with 59 (117 balls, 4 fours) and Gous also excelled with 73 (131 balls, 11 fours, 1 six).

There was further support through Wandile Makwetu (48 not out) that enabled the Central Franchise to carry on from their 149-3 at the halfway point of the game to post a strong 362.

That was a lead of 221 that put them in a dominant position.

Lutho Sipamla ended as the pick of the bowlers with 4-76.

The Warriors went a long way towards improving on their woeful first-innings 141 the second time around, thanks to two solid early stands.

First Matthew Breetzke (47 not out) and Eddie Moore (25) opened with a 43, before the former added 52 with Rudi Second (22) for wicket No 3.

But the stand-in captain fell on the stroke of stumps leaving the advantage firmly with the Knights, whose wickets came from Corne Dry (1-25), Tshepo Ntuli (1-21) and Shaun von Berg (1-26).

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