During their penultimate round-robin fixture in the CSA 4-Day Series, the Knights claimed a final victory, which has put them within touching distance of a return to the top-flight of cricket.

On Sunday, the Knights clinched an impressive 88-run victory over Border at Buffalo Park to maintain their unbeaten record and surge to the top of the log with just one round remaining before the final. 

It was a result that underlined their growing confidence and ambition as the promotion race heats up.

Seth Fledermaus. Photo: Cricinfo

The Knights’ immediate objective is to finish top of the standings and secure maximum promotion points. From there, the ultimate prize would be to lift silverware by winning the final on home soil – the perfect reward for a season of consistency and character.

Set a daunting 359-run target in their second innings, Border showed plenty of fight on day three and throughout much of the final day on Sunday, refusing to roll over without a contest.

At stumps on day three, the Iinyathi were 129/3, with Wian Ruthven leading the resistance on an unbeaten 68 and Mncedisi Malika providing support on 10 not out.

Border were faced with a clear equation on the final day: chase down the remaining 229 runs for victory or bat out the 90 overs to salvage a draw. Standing in their way was a disciplined Knights attack that still needed seven wickets to seal the win.

Ruthven anchored the innings superbly, holding things together with a composed 95 off 183 balls before heartbreak struck when he was run out with 11 overs remaining. Jan Coetzer added further resistance, grinding out a patient 40 from 121 deliveries to frustrate the Knights’ bowlers.

Jason Niemand contributed 29 off 101 balls and Nico van Zyl chipped in with 22 off 45, but the pressure eventually told. The Iinyathi were bowled out for 270 after 117.5 overs, handing the Knights a hard-earned victory.

Patrick Botha. Photo: Morgan Piek

Part-time spinner Seth Fledermaus once again caught the eye, finishing with impressive figures of 3/43 from 25.5 overs, while Patrick Botha tied down one end superbly with 1/27 in 17 overs. The seamers also played a crucial role, with Tiaan van Vuuren claiming 2/41 in 15 overs and Joe van Dyk returning figures of 2/50 from 22 overs.

The win lifted the Knights to the top of the table on 103.74 points and put them in a strong position to finish at the summit. However, there is no room for complacency, with a must-win clash against the Mpumalanga Rhinos in White River still to come.

The Eastern Storm slipped to second place on 90.18 points, while the Garden Route Badgers dropped to third on 86.90 points. Both teams remain firmly in the promotion hunt and will square off in a crucial encounter from Thursday in Oudtshoorn.

Thursday’s showdown between the Rhinos and the Knights at Uplands College in White River is scheduled to get underway at 10:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs