Cape Town - An unbroken 72-run seventh-wicket stand between Rudi Second and Shadley van Schalkwyk was holding up the Dolphins when bad light ended play on the rain-hit third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Knights in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
This after Ethan Bosch had ripped through the visiting top-order with four for 62 to give the hosts a slim chance of victory in a round eight clash that has been severely affected by the weather at the City Oval.
In the end, Second's unbeaten 54 off 109 balls (6 fours) and 35 by Van Schalkwyk saw the Central Franchise to the close on 174 for six - 180 runs behind the opposition first-innings score of 354 for seven declared.
After the entire second day was ruined by rain and a subsequent wet outfield, just over 50 overs were sent down on day three, on which the Dolphins eventually resumed on 330 for six.
Senuran Muthusamy, unbeaten on 81 at the start, would have been hopeful of reaching an eighth career century, but was out after adding just eight to his score to fall for 89 (144 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes).
Bosch whacked his way to 22 not out off 29 balls in the interim, before the declaration came.
Thandolwethu Mnyaka finished as the pick of the bowlers with three for 71.
The Knights were then reduced to 22 for three and 79 for five as young Bosch made merry.
Grant Mokoena and Andries Gous managed 27 apiece as the visitors struggled to cope with the paceman as well his fellow bowlers Kerwin Mungroo (1/22) and Muthusamy (1/38).
But after slipping to 102 for six, they were rescued by the Second-Van Schalkwyk stand, before bad light prematurely ended proceedings.
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