Skipper Colin Ingram blasted a run-a-ball century, guiding the Warriors into the One-day Cup final with a four-wicket win over the Knights in the one-off semi-final in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Ingram smashed 112 runs from 111 deliveries for his sixth limited overs ton, sharing 129 runs for the second wicket with Adrian Jacobs after opener Jon-Jon Smuts had fallen in the second over.
Jacobs was removed by 19-year-old debutant Duanne Olivier for 54 runs after laying the foundation with his captain.
And while Ingram fell to spinner Werner Coetsee, Johan Botha and Craig Thyssen combined in a 45-run partnership for the sixth wicket to hold the innings together.
Coetsee struck again when he had Botha caught behind by Morne van Wyk for 21, with the visitors needing 19 runs from 17 balls with four wickets in hand.
Thyssen, who smashed 40 not out from 29 deliveries, and Wayne Parnell, unbeaten on five, carried them home with six balls to spare.
Olivier returned 3/46 and he was well backed by Coetsee, who picked up 2/41, but their efforts were in vain as the Warriors secured their place in the final.
Dean Elgar and Reeza Hendricks anchored the home side’s innings after the Warriors won the toss and sent them in to bat.
Hendricks and fellow opener Van Wyk got the Knights off to an explosive start, smashing five boundaries in the first two overs.
Seam bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Juan Theron managed to stem the run flow and Theron removed Van Wyk for 38 runs in the seventh over to break the 49-run partnership.
Hendricks and Elgar shared 71 runs for the third wicket before Hendricks was dismissed by paceman Parnell for 70 runs.
Elgar hit an unbeaten 89 to carry the Knights through the second half of their innings as they reached 280/5.
The Warriors will face the Cape Cobras in the final in Cape Town on Friday. – Sapa