Cape Town - Anrich Nortje's career-best figures outshone Shadley van Schalkwyk’s top return with the ball as the Warriors took control of their Sunfoil Series clash against the Knights after day two at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
A total of 13 wickets fell on the second day, with medium-pacer Van Schalkwyk finishing with 7/82 to help dismiss the hosts for 339.
Right-arm seamer Nortje then took 6/44 as the visitors were knocked over for 179 in reply - a deficit of 160 - with the lead then extended to 179 after the Eastern Cape side reach stumps on 19/0.
The Knights, the only unbeaten team in the 2016/17 competition, had started the day well enough after claiming the last three wickets for the addition of 47 runs.
Van Schalkwyk accounted for all three to complete a memorable 30.4 over contribution with figures that surpassed his previous best of 5/45 against the Cape Cobras last season.
It was the third five-wicket haul of his career.
The Knights made an excellent start to the reply as half-centuries from Michael Erlank (59 off 111 balls, 11 fours) and David Miller (55 off 83 balls, 10 fours) put them on 126/2 at one stage.
But Nortje, who took his third five-for in the process, removed both in a collapse that saw the Central franchise lose eight wickets for just 53 as they were shot out in 59.3 overs.
Home captain Simon Harmer chipped in with 2/22, before his openers Gionne Koopman (11) and Eddie Moore (8) negotiated six overs until bad light ended play early.