Simon Harmer’s five-for led a Warriors attack which put them in a strong position against the Knights in their Sunfoil match in East London.
It took a fighting rearguard action, led by Ryan McLaren’s aggressive 73 off 98 balls (10×4, 1×6) to give the Knights’ innings a semblance of dignity as they were bowled out for 188 in 60 overs.
In reply, the hosts were 77-2, after an opening stand of 67 between Eddie Moore (35) and Gihahn Cloete, who is still at the crease on 34.
The decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends: within 19 overs, the Knights were six down with just 41 runs on the board. The pace of Anrich Nortje and Tladi Bokako provided the early breakthrough: Nortje removing the openers, Luthando Mnyanda and Grant Mokoena, for a total of seven runs and Bokako adding Keegan Petersen (1).
The early introduction of Harmer’s devastating spin was another highly effective tactic, as he swiftly eliminated the potential of Rudi Second (8), and of big-hitting David Miller (15) after he and Patrick Kruger had attempted to dig in.
Kruger was the first Knight to stand up to the rampant Warriors attack, with 44 off 85 balls, and McLaren got solid support from Duanne Olivier, who ended unbeaten on 35 off 76.
Harmer is in magnificent form, ending with 5-36 off 19.4 overs, extending his lead at the top of the wicket-takers list, with 42 in his seventh match. He broke the 69-run eighth-wicket stand between McLaren and Olivier and cut off the tail.
Photo: Michael Sheehan /Gallo Images
