Grant Mokoena struck 99 for the Knights before late wickets stifled their progress on the opening day of the 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Warriors in Kimberley on Monday.
The right-hander faced 200 balls and struck 14 fours, and was out one shy of his century as the hosts closed on 284/9.
There was also a strong contribution from Keegan Petersen, who made 82 (183 balls, 13 fours), although the pair lacked much support from their teammates at the Diamond Oval.
Anrich Nortjé (4/46) and Simon Harmer (3/88) shared seven wickets to ensure the match was evenly poised at stumps.
The Knights won the toss at the start of the round five encounter, but their decision to bat first looked like the wrong one after they lost Luthando Mnyanda (1), debutant Raynard van Tonder (13) and Pite van Biljon (6) inside 19 overs as they struggled to reach 30/3.
But a 182-run fourth-wicket partnership between Mokoena and Petersen helped sway the initiative back in favour of the Central Franchise.
That was when things went wrong, though, with Harmer striking initially to end the stand with the score on 212/3.
Things only got worse from there, with Petersen and Andries Gous (23) following not long after. Three more wickets came with the new ball.