The Dolphins eased to a 46-run victory in a rain-interrupted match against the Knights at the Diamond Oval to keep their play-off hopes alive.

After the Dolphins had posted 290-8, the Knights were set a revised target of 158 off 20 overs after the rain eventually subsided, but it proved too much as they were bowled out for 111.

Both sides went into the clash in Kimberley off the back of defeats on Friday. With four losses from their six Momentum One Day Cup matches going into Tuesday’s clash, another defeat for either side would all but signal the end of their play-off hopes.

The Dolphins, looking to avoid four defeats in a row, won the toss and elected to bat and it proved to be an innings of constructive partnerships as the visitors were able to put on a competitive total.

Morne van Wyk (11) lost his wicket early, but the 60-run stand between makeshift opener Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Cody Chetty settled the nerves. Both players would bring up half-centuries.

A collapse was on the cards as Van Jaarsveld (50) and Ryan McLaren (5) fell in quick succession, but Chetty was involved in another crucial partnership, this time with Khaya Zondo (52), who returned from SA A duties, as they took their stand past 100.

They would fall in successive overs, but Kyle Nipper and Calvin Savage would add 55 in six overs, before Andile Phehlukwayo and Kesh Maharaj provided the finishing touches with a flurry of sixes to give their side plenty of runs to work with.

The hosts resumed their response after the rain on 4-0 from 1.1 overs, but it was the break Rudi Second didn’t want, as Craig Alexander got him with the first ball to walk back for a duck.

Patrick Botha was moved up to No 3 to add a bit of impetus to the innings, and he would add a handy 27 runs with Reeza Hendricks.

They weren’t going anywhere near the eight an over that was required however, and it got the better of them, and the rest of the middle order, as four wickets fell in just two overs.

Van Schalkwyk gave the Knights a glimmer of hope as he smashed a 20-ball 34, but there simply weren’t enough wickets left to spare as a couple of wickets fell around him, before he was the eighth wicket to fall, spelling the end of their challenge.

Savage was particularly impressive with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-16, as the Knights were skittled for 111 to suffer their fifth defeat of the competition.