Knights, Titans qualify for semi-final

The Knights will play the qualifier after they notched up their seventh win of the competition in their last league game, beating the Warriors by seven wickets at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley. Put in to bat, Warriors were pegged back in the fifth over of the innings when they lost two wickets in two balls. Davy Jacobs (46) and Johan Botha (41) then shared an important 87-run partnership, but Jandre Coetzee (3 for 25), who is the second highest wicket-taker in the competition with 17 scalps, accounted for both the batsmen in the 18th over as the Warriors finished on 141 for 6. In reply, Knights captain Morne van Wyk (37) led the chase, along with Reeza Hendricks (48) and Dean Elgar (33), to achieve the target with five balls to spare.

In another scramble for the qualifier spot, the Titans beat the Cape Cobras by six wickets at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. Electing to bat first, the Cape Cobras struggled against the trio of Alfonso Thomas (2 for 22), Albie Morkel (2 for 37) and Roelof van der Merwe (2 for 26). But Dane Vilas (48) and Justin Kemp (24) clouted Morkel for three sixes and a four in the 19th over, which went for 27 runs, to lift Cobras to 156. In response, batsman-of-the-match Faf du Plessis (38) hit three sixes and was well supported by the top-order as the Titans completed the chase comfortably.

The results of Sunday's ties have put the Lions (35 points) straight into the final, which they will host at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, irrespective of the results of the remaining games. The Titans have a chance to leapfrog the Knights in the points table and host the qualifier, if they win with a bonus point in their last league game against the Warriors.