The ITEC Knights have a slight 21-run lead over the Northern Cape Heat in Kimberley at stumps on day two of the Division 2 final of the CSA 4-Day series.

After two days it is pretty much evenly poised at the moment and will come down to who does the small things right in the respective second innings.

The Knights were bowled out for 330-runs in their first innings with Isaac Dikgale scoring a career-best 122, while Matthew Pollard scored 48. The former Heat captain, Aubrey Swanepoel, initially retired hurt on 14 runs, but he did manage to go out and bat again to score 35.

The seasoned seamer, Basheeru-Deen Walters, was the pick of the Heat bowlers with 4/50 in 20 overs. While the captain Ernest Kemm took 2/37 in 13.2 overs and Grant Thomson took 2/37 in 10 overs.

In reply, the Heat were on 309/8 in their first innings at the close of play on Sunday.

Jason Oakes scored 82-runs, while Thomson scored 56 and Jonathan Vandiar was unbeaten on 54. Walters will join Vandiar at the crease for the start of day three and after facing nine balls he is yet to get off the mark.

So far, Pollard is the pick of the Knights bowlers with 2/43 in 16 overs. Dane Piedt, Sithembile Langa and Monde Maqunqu each bagged two scalps as well.

The Knights captain Patrick Botha told OFM Sport that doing the basics well over the next couple of days will put them in good stead.

“After the first couple of days the standout performances were probably from Isaac Dikgale who scored a very special hundred.

“He knuckled down in tough conditions early on Saturday with it being overcast. He kept us in the game there with the bat.

“On Sunday the bowlers put in a real good stint and brought good energy.

“The game is pretty much evenly poised and I think that Monday and Tuesday will be two big days leading up into the last day. It's just about doing the basics right over the next two days.

“We are pretty confident as a team in that regard and that is what we are going to go out and do.”

Play at the Diamond Oval resumes at 10:00 on Monday morning.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport