The Warriors resumed their second innings on 340/4 and declared on 349/5, setting the Knights a challenging target of 320 for victory on the last day.

Batter Matthew de Villiers was the standout performer with the willow for the Warriors, playing a match-saving knock of 201 off just 221 balls in the second innings. He struck 28 fours in his rapid innings. JP King provided solid support in their 220-run partnership for the third wicket, scoring 64 off 132 deliveries.

Patrick Botha. Photo: Knights

Left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren was the pick of the Knights’ bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/84 in 18 overs, while Dane Piedt, Malusi Siboto, and Dian Forrester each claimed a wicket.

The Knights found themselves in trouble at 23/3 after 10.3 overs, but Patrick Botha and Gihahn Cloete showed resilience. The top three batters had little impact, with Jacques Snyman scoring 14, Lesego Senokwane managing just 2, and Isaac Dikgale making 6.

Botha anchored the innings with a gritty 77 off 251 balls, while Cloete remained unbeaten on 42 off 248 balls when play was called. The duo put on a crucial 126-run partnership for the fourth wicket, batting for 78.4 overs to secure the draw under immense pressure. Forrester was also at the crease on 12* when the match concluded.

Speaking to OFM Sport, Botha said they had to dig deep, and while their batting performance did not secure a win, it played a crucial role in strengthening the team’s character ahead of their season-ending clash against the Lions in Bloemfontein next week.

“Being 23/3 obviously isn’t ideal, so it was great to come out with a result like that,” said Botha.

“Only losing one wicket from that point – and having that partnership with Gihahn – was really special. He and I started our Knights careers together, making our debuts at the same time, so it was great to share such a meaningful stand with him.

“Everything just felt so calm out there today. We knew what we needed to do to get the draw and how important the last game in Bloem is going to be.

Gihahn Cloete. Photo: Morgan Piek

“You could see the unity in the team today, and it’s massive. The last game is going to be huge, and the togetherness we’ve built after this match has been unbelievable. The fight we showed today will serve us well going forward.”

Next week, the Knights will take on the Lions in Bloemfontein in their final game of the season. It will be a must-win encounter if they are to stand any chance of avoiding relegation back to Division 2.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg