Cricket
Knights crowed 4-Day Series Division 2 champions─── MORGAN PIEK 12:22 Tue, 10 Feb 2026
The Flexbrands Knights have been crowned the 2025/26 CSA 4-Day Series Division 2 champions after the final against Easterns at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein was declared a draw on Tuesday.
Rain was a constant talking point throughout much of the five-day final, regularly interrupting play and ultimately having the final say, with no cricket possible on the last day due to persistent wet conditions. But while the weather had a major influence in the final, the real damage had already been done long before the showpiece event.
The unbeaten Knights produced a dominant campaign, recording five wins and a draw to finish top of the Division 2 standings. Crucially, they secured the full 15 promotion points, placing them in an unassailable position on 30 points overall, having already lifted the T20 Knockout title earlier in the season.
With the Garden Route Badgers second on 14 points and Easterns third on 13, and only 15 points still available from the One-Day Cup, the Knights have officially sealed promotion. It means a return to Division 1 for the 2026/27 season, capping off a dream domestic campaign for the Free State outfit.
In the final, Easterns won the toss and batted first, posting 277 all out in 104 overs. Dewan Marais led the resistance with an unbeaten 62, while Jesse Albanie contributed 35.
Veteran seamer Malusi Siboto was outstanding with the ball for the Knights, claiming 4/54 in 25 overs, while skipper Dane Piedt chipped in with 3/82 in 33.
Gihahn Cloete. Photo: Charlé Lombard
In reply, the Knights took firm control of the contest, piling on a formidable 479/8 declared in 140 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Gihahn Cloete was the star of the show, smashing a career-best 210, while Patrick Botha narrowly missed out on a maiden century with a composed 96.
For Easterns, Tumelo Simelane was the pick of the bowlers with 4/91, while Christopher Britz grabbed 2/15, but the Knights’ first-innings dominance effectively shut the door. Relentless rain thereafter ensured no further play was possible, confirming the Knights as deserving champions.
Speaking to OFM Sport, Piedt admitted that lifting the trophy brought a huge sense of relief, even though belief within the camp never wavered. “My garden’s happy as well, but to be honest, it’s a massive relief,” Piedt said.
“When you’re the best team in the competition, you’re the ones being hunted. You’re like the buck in the wild, with everyone chasing you.
“But we stuck to the brand of cricket we believe in. Not many teams come to Bloemfontein and bowl first, but we know the conditions and what’s expected of us.
“I thought we bowled exceptionally well in the first innings – it honestly felt like a proper Test match day walking off the field. Even at 220 for seven, I felt we were still in the driving seat going into day two.
Malusi Siboto. Photo: Morgan Piek
“Guys like Malusi Siboto were exceptional with four wickets, and getting over the line in such a crunch game was a huge relief and incredibly exciting for me.”
Head coach JP Triegaardt echoed his captain’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of finally getting over the line after heartbreak in previous seasons. “It’s an unbelievable feeling, to be honest,” said Triegaardt.
“In previous years in Division Two, we played in two finals and came up short, so to finally get our hands on the silverware is a massive relief.
Dane Piedt. Photo: Morgan Piek
“The biggest thing is finding a way to win finals. Once you’ve got that combination, you stick to it and trust the process, because winning becomes a habit.
“I thought the conditions and the weather played into our hands, and there were some really dominant individual performances with the bat. The partnership between Gihahn Cloete and Isaac Dikgale under pressure was unbelievable, but what stood out for me was the maturity they showed.
“Patrick Botha’s 96 was another massive contribution, even though he fell just four runs short of a hundred.
Left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren is on the verge of a call-up to the Proteas for the upcoming tour to New Zealand. Photo: Morgan Piek
“In the end, it was about growth, controlling the controllable, and I’m incredibly proud and excited to be bringing the silverware back to Bloemfontein.”
The Knights will now shift their focus to an unprecedented domestic treble as they turn their attention to the CSA One-Day Cup.
Their campaign gets underway on 22 February against the Limpopo Impalas in Polokwane, with confidence sky-high and momentum firmly on their side.
