The return of the “prodigal son” Rilee Rossouw was spoiled with the defending champions claiming the convincing win, while the former Protea batter failed with the willow, albeit he took a blinding catch while fielding.

The Lions had a bat first at the Mangaung Oval and managed to score 142/7 in their allotted 20 overs with the former Knight and Junior Protea Wandile Makwetu scoring 40 runs. The captain Mitchell van Buuren, in turn, scored 32 runs.

Aaron Phangiso was the pick of the Knights bowlers with 3/26 in his 4 overs. Sithembile Langa in turn took 2/24 in his 4-overs, while Malusi Siboto took 2/26.

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In reply, the Knights were bowled out for 95 runs in 17.5 overs with Phangiso top-scoring with 24. The Free State did well to get to the score after being in heaps of trouble after 6 overs with their score of 25/5.

The birthday boy, Rossouw, scored just six runs in his return, but it required a brilliant catch by Connor Esterhuizen to dismiss the destructive batter. Of the top-six batters, only Gihahn Cloete managed to reach double figures with the bat with 17 runs before being run out. This was also the Knights’ third-highest score in their innings, while there were 11 extras.

Codi Yusuf starred with the ball for the Lions with 2/13 in his 3 overs. The allrounder Evan Jones took 2/14 in 3 overs while Junaid Dawood took 2/21.

On Saturday, the Knights will have a tough fifth-round game when they face the second-placed Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion. On Wednesday, the Titans thumped Boland by 94 runs at home.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg