Farhaan Behardien’s 56 from 39 balls secured a home semi-final for the Titans after a stuttering start of the Knights’ 134.
The Knights got off to a treacherous start after electing to bat in the first match of a doubleheader in Port Elizabeth, losing their top four for 61 runs.
Dale Steyn removed both Knights openers in his first over, before Tabraiz Shamsi and Junior Dala removed Theunis de Bruyn and David Miller respectively, to hand the Titans the early control.
Miller was handed a lifeline in the seventh over after a Quinton de Kock catch off the bowling of Dala was overturned by the third umpire, with the Proteas batsman on 25 off 24 balls at that stage.
The Proteas big-hitter showed signs of making the log-leaders pay, but he could only manage 43 off 34 balls (six fours) before he was dismissed by Dala to round up the 10th over.
The Titans kept control as wickets continued to tumble, as Shamsi bowled Ryan McClaren and Malusi Siboto removed Aubrey Swanepoel to prevent the Knights from scoring freely.
Grant Mokoena’s 31 off 28 balls (2×6, 1×4) and Shadley van Schalkwyk’s 9-ball 16 (2×4) pushed the Knights to 133-7 in their 20 overs.
The Titans uncharacteristically found themselves backpedalling on 23-3 in 5.4 overs, Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier and Van Schalkwyk sharing the scalps.
Tony de Zorzi fell first on a duck to Swanepoel, followed by De Kock off Olivier, Henry Davids off Van Schalkwyk and an Aiden Markram run out saw the Titans make a meal of their run chase by stumbling to 54-4.
It was left to Farhaan Behardien and captain Albie Morkel to keep the Titans’ unbeaten streak on track, but Morkel only managed two fours and two sixes for his 27, before he was dismissed for Swanepoel’s second.
Behardien was masterful in his approach and reached his 11th half-century with his side still needing 18 off 11 balls.
Four wides from Olivier, good rotation and a six from Chris Morris in the 19th over, saw the Titans shift the match in their favour, needing four off the last over to win.
Three singles and a maximum from Morris secured a five-wicket victory, as the Titans guaranteed a home semi-final.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
