The ITEC Knights are in a strong position after day one of their Division 2 4-Day series game against the Garden Route Badgers in Bloemfontein.

The Badgers batted first and were bowled out for just 69-runs with Blayde Capell scoring 29 to be the only batter to score double-figures.

The seamer Sithembile Langa was absolutely brilliant with the ball with 5/13 in 9 overs. The allrounders Matthew Pollard and Dian Forrester were also in on the action with the ball. Pollard took 2/6 in 9 overs, while Forrester took 2/10 in 6.1 overs.

The former Protea Gihahn Cloete scored 81-runs in the Knights first innings to lead them to 197/7 at stumps, while Thomas Kaber took 3/30.

The Knights captain, Patrick Botha, told OFM Sport that as a bowling unit their energy showed and they have their strategy in place.

The bowling was unbelievable and as I referred to in the week, the energy has been there,” said Botha who scored 33-runs and took the catch for Capell’s wicket.

“They were ready to fire and it came off in this innings. The whole bowling unit as a group were unbelievable and Sithembile Langa reaped the rewards.

“We've got the lead and are looking to build on that on Friday morning, and then get back into the bowling. From there we're going to go for the win.”

Play at the Mangaung Oval resumes at 10:00 with the Knights holding a 128-run lead. Aubrey Swanepoel is unbeaten on 9, while Langa is yet to get off the mark.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport