Malusi Siboto grabbed five wickets to keep the Knights' semi-final hopes in the domestic One-day Cup alive after a convincing seven-wicket victory over the Titans in Kimberley on Friday.
The medium-pacer ended with five for 38 to help dismiss the visitors for 186 in 39.5 overs at the Diamond Oval, before Rilee Rossouw struck an unbeaten 65 to lead his side over the line in 31.1 overs.
Siboto was given good support from Johan van der Wath (two for 30) with Faf du Plessis (40) top-scoring for the men from Pretoria, who must now win their remaining two games and rely on other results if they want to stay in the competition.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the Titans were dealt an early blow when Henry Davids (1) had his off-stump uprooted by Van der Wath in the second over.
But Jacques Rudolph and Martin van Jaarsveld rebuilt comfortably on a flat track, and put on 58 together for the second wicket.
Both fell in quick succession, with Siboto bowling Van Jaarsveld for 26, while Rudolph (28) was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker's end when Victor Mpitsang managed to get a finger-tip on a straight drive by AB de Villiers.
The Proteas' limited-overs skipper looked in good touch while he was at the wicket, hitting a run-a-ball 26 before being outstandingly caught by Morne van Wyk off Dillon du Preez -- the Knights wicketkeeper diving full-length to his right to somehow clasp a flying edge.
Du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien looked to steady the ship and did so nicely initially, but the latter then lost his cool and tried to hit out against Werner Coetsee with his stroke succeeding only in finding Michael Erlank in the deep.
Siboto then outfoxed key man Du Plessis with a slower delivery and in his next over bowled David Wiese to leave the Titans reeling at 168 for seven.
The medium pacer made a mess of the stumps for a fourth time when he bowled Marchant de Lange (6) and bowled Rowan Richards (4) to complete his five-for in 7.5 overs and end the innings.
The Titans needed to strike early if they were going to have any chance of winning, but that did not happen as Van Wyk and Erlank put on 37 for the first wicket, before Ethy Mbhalati (two for 34) bowled the skipper for 24.
His partner was next to go for when he was snapped up by Van Jaarsveld off the same bowler at second slip for 17, before the in-form Dean Elgar was smartly taken by Du Plessis at point, Richards (three for 34) the bowler.
That left the visitors on 66 for three, but a steady 48-run stand between Obus Pienaar and Rossouw put them back on track.
They went past 100 in the 18th over with Pienaar next to go for 22, Wiese the bowler and Behardien taking the catch on the mid-wicket fence.
Rossouw, whose half-century came up from 43 balls and included eight fours and a six, continued to attack during a 47-run partnership that came in just 7.4 overs with Coetsee.
Despite losing Coetsee (20), Van der Wath (5) and Aubrey Swanepoel (14) in quick succession, the hosts closed out the game with almost 20 overs to spare. – Sapa