The Rhinos posted 179/6 in their 20 overs after some wayward bowling early on from the visitors and some inventive stroke play from Zakir Kathrada and Gareth Dukes. After just two overs, the Knights were in real trouble.

Johan van Dyk conceded 24 runs in the opening over (2, 4, 1wd, 1, 4, 6, 6) while Sithembile Langa went for 20 in the second (2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 0) – leaving the hosts cruising on 44/0.

The experienced seamer and stand-in captain, Malusi Siboto, finally made the breakthrough for the Knights in the 5th over when Kathrada was caught by Cole Abrahams for 24, with the score on 59/1.

Ruben du Toit then dismissed Dukes for a blazing 47 off 24 balls in the 9th over, with the scoreboard on 101/2.

Captain Muhammed Mayet chipped in with 39 off 44, while Benjamin van Niekerk, Musawenkosi Twala, and Bryn Brokenshaw each added 15. Brokenshaw’s unbeaten cameo came off just four balls – back-to-back sixes off Siboto in the 20th over ensured the bowlers had something decent to defend.

Siboto was the pick of the Knights’ bowlers. Although his figures took a hit in the final over, he still finished with 2/31 in 4 overs. Despite a nightmare start, Van Dyk bounced back impressively to end with 2/45 in 4, while left-arm spinner Mbongi Mhlanga held his nerve under pressure with a tidy 1/18 in 4 overs. Du Toit also contributed a solid 1/21 in 3.

In reply, the Knights’ innings got off to a flying start as Jacques Snyman cracked back-to-back fours off the first two balls from Dukes. A single off the fourth brought wicketkeeper Gihahn Cloete to the crease – but he was dismissed first ball, caught by former Knights skipper Aubrey Swanepoel, who himself had been bowled for a golden duck earlier in the Rhinos’ innings.

Ruan Haasbroek. Photo: Knights

Snyman followed soon after, bowled by Dukes for 20 in the third over. Just seven runs later, Du Toit fell for a duck to Tetelo Maphaka with the score on 27/3.

Abrahams and Ruben Maree steadied the ship for the Knights before Maree was caught for 22 off 19 with the score on 75/4 after 10.4 overs.

Haasbroek then strode to the crease and, alongside Abrahams, began rebuilding – rotating the strike smartly and keeping the scoreboard ticking as the pair put on an 80-run stand.

At the start of the 17th over, the Knights were on 123/4. Haasbroek then cut loose, taking Brokenshaw apart with two sixes, two fours, a two, and a single – smashing 23 off the over to give the Knights a glimmer of hope with 34 required from the last three overs.

Jon Hinrichsen bowled Abrahams with a fine yorker for a well-played 57 in the 18th over, keeping the Rhinos in the contest.

Cole Abrahams. Photo: Knights

Heading into the final over, the Knights needed 16 for victory. With the third ball, Haasbroek launched a Hinrichsen full toss for six, followed by another stunning maximum over point. Then, with the penultimate delivery, he steered the ball past point for four to seal the win in sensational fashion. Haasbroek finished with a majestic 76 not out off just 36 balls, hammering four fours and six sixes.

Dukes was the pick of the Rhinos bowlers with 2/30 in 4 overs, while Hinrichsen took 2/41 in 3.5 overs.

The victory lifted the Knights back to the top of the log after four rounds – a crucial result in their final away fixture. They now return to Bloemfontein to face the Eastern Storm at the Mangaung Oval on Sunday, before wrapping up the league stage six days later against the Garden Route Badgers at home.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs