The Northern Cape Heat spoiled the ITEC Knight’s party in Bloemfontein on Thursday by securing their place in the Division 2 final of the CSA T20 Challenge.

The Heat, who finished third on the log, edged the Knights by a mere four-runs in semi-final that went right down to the last ball.

The Heat won the toss and elected to bat first while the conditions were still overcast and threatened to rain at times, and it proved to be the right decision as they scored 186/5 in their allotted 20-overs.

CP Klijnhans who started his career at the Knights did a lot of damage with the bat for the Heat - Morgan Piek

Upfront, the vastly experienced opening batter, Jonathan Vandiar, blasted 55-runs of 34 ball to put pressure on the Knights bowling attack, while the former Knights batter, CP Klijnhans, did damage lower down the order with 46-runs off 26 balls, and the wicketkeeper, Hanu Viljoen, scored 35 off 22.

The seasoned Jacques Snyman was brilliant with the ball for the Knights with 2/20 in his 4-overs.

The Knights did however put themselves under more pressure than they should have with a couple of drop catches at key moments in the Heat’s innings.

The Knights' run-chase got off to the worst possible start with the former Protea wicketkeeper, Gihahn Cloete, being stumped off the second ball of the first over by Ernest Kemm.

Isaac Dikgale hitting one of his six fours  - Morgan Piek

But, the number three batter and former Heat player, Isaac Dikgale, played arguably his best innings of the season with a fine 43 off 32 balls which included six fours, before he was forced to retire hurt.

Patrick Botha in turn scored 33-runs off 18 to keep the Knights in the hunt. Clayton Bosch also played a handy knock of 15 off 10, but it was the debutant Ruan Cronjé that really gave the Knights a chance.

The debutant Ruan Cronjé hits his first ball in senior T20 cricket for a six - Morgan Piek

In his first ball in senior T20 cricket he hit a six, and with the second last ball of the innings he struck another maximum to leave the Knights needing 5-runs off the last ball for the win. In going for another big shot for the win, he was bowled out by the seasoned seamer, Basheer Walters.

Cronjé finished with 15-runs off six balls and the Knights were restricted to 182/9 in their allotted 20-overs.

The former Knights spinner, Tshepo Ntuli, was the pick of the Heat bowlers with 2/20 in his 4-overs, while Kemm and Walters each bag two scalps as well.

The Heat will now face the Limpopo Impalas in Polokwane on Sunday in the final.

Grant Thomson - Morgan Piek

The Heat captain, Grant Thomson, who scored a handy 22-runs, told OFM Sport that they play the game for these moments.

“This is why we play the game, to get into situations like this and test our skills against some of the best players in the country,” said Thomson.

“Good luck to the Knights for their promotion for next season, but we're looking forward to going up to Polokwane. They've played some great cricket over the past four or five months, and it's almost a fairytale ending for them.”

Sunday’s final between the Impalas and Heat in Polokwane is scheduled to get underway at 13:00.

For the Knights, their season is over and it was one where they reached two finals and a semi-final. While they were unable to claim any silverware, it remains mission accomplished as they are being promoted back up to Division 1.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport