The ITEC Knights were happy with their effort after day one of their CSA 4-Day game against the Limpopo Impalas at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

The Impalas won the toss and elected to have a bat first, but were bowled out for 290-runs in 93-overs.

Ruan Haasbroek led the charge for the visitors with the bat with a fine knock of 116, while Lourens Steenkamp scored 44.

It was the Knights fast bowler, Nipho Mpungose, who starred with the ball with a career-best 6/81, while he also took two catches. Both of his catches were caught-and-bowled effors, and this included big wicket of Haasbroek.

Sithembile Langa was also tidy in his bowling with 2/38 in 16 overs, while Dian Forrester and Matthew Pollard each claimed a scalp as well.

The former Proteas spinner, Dane Piedt, was on debut for the Knights, and while he didn't take a wicket, he played his part with 0/56 in 24 overs.

The Knights captain, Patrick Botha, told OFM Sport that Mpungose brought a lot of energy with his bowling.

“It was nice to get going in the four-day competition and it was a serious effort from our bowling unit on day one,” said Botha.

“Everyone has serious energy out there and I think some of the bowlers were unlucky not to get wickets earlier in the day.

“Nipho bore the fruits of a good bowling unit working together - he was serious with the energy that he brought and with the way he bowled in good areas with pace and was really attacking. He is the one today who bore the fruits and the whole squad is really happy for him.

“Going into day two, everyone is really confident. Limpopo batted well and we've just got to go out and do our thing and do what we work on.”

Play at the Mangaung Oval resumes on Friday morning at 10:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport