The pressure is on the ITEC Knights to reach the final of the Division 2 CSA 4-Day series after they suffered a second successive defeat in their campaign.

On Sunday, the Knights were thumped by 9 wickets by the Eastern Cape Iinyathi at Buffalo Park in East London.

The Knights started strong in the game by scoring 363-runs in their first innings with Gihahn Cloete scoring 133.

In reply, the Iinyathi were bowled out for 483 with Jerome Bossr scoring 110, Joshua Dodd scoring 83, Jason Niemand contributing with 66 and Jade de Klerk adding 52.

Matthew Pollard was the pick of the Knights bowlers with 3/65, while Monde Maqunqu took 3/129.

The Knights were dismissed for 235 in their second innings with Nathan Roux scoring 61, while Isaac Dikgale scored 39 and Garnett Tarr added 33.

De Klerk was the absolute star with the ball by taking 7/99 in his 36 overs.

The Iinyathi chased down the target in 31.2 in their second innings for the win with Niemand score 51, Bossr unbeaten on 47 and Nonelela not out on 15.

The Knights are still second on the log on 69.12 points and have the narrowest of leads on the third placed Northern Cape Heat who are on 69.08 points. The Limpopo Impalas top the long with 87.42 points.

This week the Knights will host the fifth placed Garden Route Badgers in Bloemfontein, while the defending champions, the Heat are away to the Iinyathi.

The Impalas have completed their five games and will have a bye this week. Solid wins for the Knights and Heat can make things very interesting indeed.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport