DAY 2: Swanepoel registers a five-wicket haul in Warriors fightback

Beyers Swanepoel bagged a five-wicket haul as the Dafabet Warriors continued their fightback, restricting the Knights to 121/6 at lunch on the second day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Knights at Dafabet St George's Park on Friday morning.

The Knights trail the Warriors by 50 runs with four wickets in hand. The visitors had Aaron Phangiso (29*) and Dane Piedt (8*) at the crease at the interval.

They are replying to the home side's first innings total of 171. The Warriors were asked to bat first by the Knights and did not have much to show besides Jiveshan Pillay (49), JP King (43), and Patrick Kruger's (35) efforts.

Swanepoel was incredible with the ball on day one, taking four of the five wickets that fell. He finished his spell with four wickets for 16 runs in 7.2 overs.

He continued in the same vein on Friday morning, conceding only seven runs in the six overs that he sent down. He had taken five wickets for 23 runs in 14 overs at lunch. This is his 10th First-Class five-wicket haul.

Swanepoel's efforts are part of the reason why the Knights were unable to gather any momentum in their innings. Tiaan van Vuuren's injury also did not help matters. The allrounder was forced to retire when he was on 11 off 42 balls.

The Knights' frontline spinners and also two of the three most-experienced players, Dane Piedt and Aaron Phangiso, did well to steer the visitors to lunch without further damage. They patiently chipped away at the deficit with singles.

WARRIORS: Jivesham Pillay, Jordan Hermann, Matthew de Villiers, JP King, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Patrick Kruger, Andile Mogakane, Beyers Swanepoel, CJ King, Alfred Mothoa.

KNIGHTS: Jacques Snyman, Lesego Senokwane, Isaac Dikgale, Patrick Botha, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Dian Forrester, Tiaan van Vuuren, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto, Johannes van Dyk