Onke Nyaku scored a patient half-century as he shepherded WSB Western Province to 175-7 at stumps on day two of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Knights at WSB Newlands on Saturday.
The home side won the toss, decided to bat first and ran into trouble early in their innings.
However, Nyaku led a fightback that saw Western Province go from 3305 in the post-lunch session to 175-7 at stumps.
They had Nyaku (61*) and Beuran Hendricks (6*) at the crease at the close of play.
Nyaku required a crane to dislodge him from the crease. The 30-year-old dropped anchor and slowly worked his way to a seventh first-class half-century in 158 balls.
This is his first half-ton of the season. The 30-year-old is playing in his second four-day match of the season. In his previous outing, Nyaku scored 38 and 33 in their contest against the DP World Lions.
Nyaku is better known for bowling, however, against the Knights, he showed application and ability with the bat.
He was part of two crucial partnerships for Western Province. The first was the sixth-wicket partnership he shared with Mihlali Mpongwana.
The pair shared a brilliant 76-run stand that lifted Western Province past the 50 and 100-run marks.
When they joined forces, the home side were struggling on 33-5. Their stand stabilised the innings after the early trouble wrought by Sithembile Langa and Tiaan van Vuuren.
Mpongwana was looking secure for most of his innings, but agonisingly fell five runs short of his third first-class half-century. He had scored 45 off 72 balls.
The second partnership Nyaku shared was with Kyle Simmonds.
The duo constructed a 56-run seventh-wicket stand that almost lasted till stumps.
Simmonds was the aggressor in their partnership with a brisk 34 off 45. After Simmonds's dismissal, Nyaku and Beuran Hendricks saw the home side to stumps without further damage.
KNIGHTS BOWLERS ON FIRE
The Knights controlled the post-lunch session with some outstanding bowling.
Sithembile Langa and Tiaan van Vuuren took the new ball and destroyed the Western Province top order.
They were so unplayable they reduced Western Province to 9-3 after 8.1 overs.
Malusi Siboto joined in the action with a wicket in the 14th over.
Langa completed the destruction with a wicket to leave Western Province on 33-5 after 21.4 overs.
Siboto was the pick of the bowlers for Western Province with two wickets for 17 runs in 14 overs.
Van Vuuren and Langa also bagged a brace of wickets. Van Vuuren conceded 35 runs in 13 overs, while Langa conceded 36 runs in 12 overs.
WESTERN PROVINCE: Eddie Moore, Jono Bird, Oliver Whitehead, Daniel Smith, Juan James, Onke Nyaku, Mihlali Mpongwana, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks (capt), Jody Lawrence, Mthiwekhaya Nabe.
KNIGHTS: Isaac Dikgale, Lesego Senokwane, Jacques Snyman, Tiaan van Vuuren, Dian Forrester, Dane Piedt (capt), Patrick Botha, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Malusi Siboto, Sithembile Langa, Aaron Phangiso.