The Flexbrands Knights have silverware firmly in their sights after dramatically earning the right to host the 2025/26 CSA T20 Knockout final on Sunday at the iconic Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
On Tuesday, the Knights survived a scare as they narrowly edged the red-hot and dangerous Eastern Cape Iinyathi by just three runs according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, after heavy rain and hail brought a chaotic end to Qualifier 1. It was truly touch-and-go for the Free Staters, but they held their nerve with the bat at the exact moment the heavens unleashed.
Crucially, this past Sunday, the Knights were meant to lock horns with the Garden Route Badgers in Bloemfontein in their final league match before the playoffs, but the clash was washed out without a single delivery being bowled. Both sides walked away with two points each.
Those points proved priceless as it ensured the Knights finished at the summit of the log, securing the massive 15 points on offer in the promotion-relegation race. Those points are absolute gold, with 30 widely seen as the magic number for promotion back to Division One. The Knights are not only halfway there – they’re looking ominously strong in the 4-Day Series as well.
On Tuesday, the Iinyathi batted first and posted a somewhat competitive 140/7 in their 20 overs, albeit it maybe 20 to 30 runs short, with young left-arm spinner Mbongi Mhlanga stealing the show with a brilliant 3/20 in his four overs. The Knights’ chase began steadily, and they reached 76/2 in 11.4 overs when the skies exploded and halted play.
Crucially, the hosts were fractionally ahead of the DLS par score, scraping over the line by the slimmest of margins. Jacques Snyman top-scored with a lively 36, while Gihahn Cloete was rock-steady on 14 not out, and Cole Abrahams contributed a valuable unbeaten 8.
The Knights will only discover their final opponents on Friday afternoon following Qualifier 2, hosted by the Iinyathi in East London. The winner between the Badgers and the Mpumalanga Rhinos will return to face the Iinyathi at Buffalo Park in what promises to be another knife-edge encounter.
After securing the home final, Knights CEO Johan van Heerden told Bloemfontein Courant that this was an enormous – if somewhat fortunate – triumph as the team continues its relentless push to reclaim its rightful place in South African cricket.
“At the beginning of the year we said we needed 30 points to return to Division One, and now the first step has been achieved,” Van Heerden declared.
“We’re in a good position in the four-day competition and we simply need to keep following the process.
“The team we have is incredibly well balanced and ready. I feel comfortable saying that we are the best team – we know we belong there and we will get there.
“We just need a bit of luck. The rain came at the right time for us – two overs earlier would have been even better – but one over later and we could have been in trouble.
“It’s a competitive league, as it should be in South African cricket, but we belong in Division One.”
Now all roads lead to Sunday’s blockbuster. Fans are urged to pack the grass banks for what promises to be a pulsating final. Watching a powerhouse seamer like Sisanda Magala steam in, or a classy batter like Ruan Haasbroek unleash his willow, is worth every moment. Magala, of course, famously starred as Man of the Match when the Proteas beat England in the second ODI in Bloemfontein back in 2023.
The first ball of Sunday’s final is scheduled for 13:00. – MORGAN PIEK
