A 12th career century from Rassie van der Dussen left the Highveld Lions in a strong position at the midway point of their Sunfoil Series clash with the Knights at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
The right-hander made 114 (205 balls, 16x4), which followed the 108 by Reeza Hendricks on day one, with the hosts posting 464 all out before the visitors replied with 154/3.
Wiaan Lubbe made 15 after only joining the game on Tuesday as a replacement for Wiaan Mulder, who has been called up to the Proteas ODI squad.
Mangaliso Mosehle contributed a quick-fire 35 off 27 balls, and 29 came via the bat of Kolpak player Hardus Viljoen, making his first appearance of the season after returning from county duty.
Eddie Leie was the pick of the bowlers against his former team with 3/56, while fellow spinner Werner Coetsee managed 3/127.
The Knights made an excellent start to their innings as new opening pair Luthando Mnyanda (60 off 114 balls, 6x4) and Grant Mokoena (52 off 105 balls, 7x4) put on 113 for the first wicket.
But Bjorn Fortuin (2/39) struck twice and Lubbe (1/22) once as three wickets fell for 13, including that of captain Theunis de Bruyn for two, before Keegan Petersen (20) and Rudi Second (15) took their side to the close without further trouble.