Dean Elgar's 14th first-class century provided the backbone for the Knights as they completed a four-wicket win over the Dolphins in their SuperSport Series match in Durban on Sunday.
The opener ended with 114 and was given good support by Boeta Dippenaar, who made 69, to take the Knights to a second win of the season as they surpassed the 296 set for victory, less than an hour into the last session.
The home side, meanwhile, slumped to a second successive loss of the season following last week's defeat to the Titans in Pietermaritzburg.
Resuming on 53 without loss at the start, overnight pair Elgar and Reeza Hendricks extended their opening partnership to 93 before the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Imraan Tahir for 30.
Any thoughts of the breakthrough giving the hosts a lift were put to bed by the next pair as they quickly brought up the 50 stand from 80 balls, before seeing the Knights into lunch at 167 for one.
With 129 to win, Dippenaar then reached his 50 from 114 balls, followed by Elgar's ton in 185 deliveries.
The 100 partnership was soon up, with the Free Staters coasting, before the centurion played on from Friedel de Wet and Ryan Bailey (six) was bowled by Robert Frylinck.
Dippenaar was eventually out with 46 still needed, and when Ryan McLaren fell for nought, there was again hope for the hosts.
Morne van Wyk (31 not out) held his nerve to guide the tail over the line as they ended on 298 for eight.
In the other game completed Sunday, David Wiese was named Man-of-the-Match after capping a fine all-round display with four wickets to bowl the Titans to a 243-run victory over the Lions in Potchefstroom.
The all-rounder, who made 124 with the bat in the second innings to set the hosts a massive 476 for victory, took four for 34 to add to his three for 69 haul first time around.
He was given good support by Hardus Viljoen (three for 34) and Paul Harris (three for 41) to help bowl the Lions out for 232, which was built around an unbeaten 86 from Thami Tsolekile, although the home side's undoing came in the morning session when they lost five wickets for 17.
Ethan O'Reilly fell to the second ball of the day, caught by wicketkeeper Mangaliso Mosehle from the bowling of Viljoen, before Stephen Cook (49) and Jonathan Vandiar (37) put on 83 for the third wicket.
Once Cook fell, Neil McKenzie (nought), Vandiar, Zander de Bruyn (four) and Temba Bavuma (one) all followed suit as the home side slipped from 92 for two to 109 for seven.
Tsolekile and Cliffie Deacon (30) did try their best to save the game with a 105-run stand, but once the latter fell, the tail folded to hand the Lions a first loss of the season.
The Titans, meanwhile claimed, their second win of the competition to move top of the log.
On Saturday, the Cobras began the defence of their title with an eight-wicket win over the Warriors in East London. – Sapa