Knights vs Eastern Cape, Final

The CSA T20 Knock Out Competition 2025 final promises an exhilarating clash between the Knights and Eastern Cape at Mangaung Oval. The Knights enter the final with a strong momentum, having won 4 of their last 5 matches, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling departments. Key players like Ben McDermott have been in great form, contributing consistently at the top order. Meanwhile, Eastern Cape arrives as resilient contenders, having overcome some tough matches, with their star all-rounder Lungi Ngidi proving deadly with the ball and handy with the bat. Historically, the head-to-head between these teams is fairly balanced, with each side sharing wins over the last ten encounters, but the Knights have had a slight edge at home. Strategically, the Knights will look to leverage their explosive batting lineup upfront and rely on disciplined bowling in the death overs, while Eastern Cape might focus on controlling the powerplay and exploiting middle-over opportunities. Both teams have match-winners capable of turning the game on its head; however, the Knights’ slightly better recent form and home advantage may give them an upper hand.

Knights: 56%, Eastern Cape: 44%

If the Knights bat first at Mangaung Oval, their strong top order could see them posting a competitive total around 170-180, given the generally batting-friendly conditions. On the other hand, if Eastern Cape wins the toss and opts to bat first, they may aim for a total in the range of 160-170, focusing on building partnerships and accelerating in the final overs. Considering the pitch has a slight tendency to aid spinners in the middle overs, teams would want to capitalize on the powerplay and death overs to maximize their run rate.

The Mangaung Oval usually offers a balanced pitch with something for both batsmen and bowlers. The average first-innings score in recent T20 matches here hovers around 165. Teams chasing at this venue have a moderate success rate of about 52%, indicating a slight advantage for teams batting second under lights. Weather forecast for the day suggests clear skies with minimal chance of rain and mild winds, ideal for cricket. The best bowler record on this ground between these two teams belongs to Lungi Ngidi, with 14 wickets in 9 matches. The highest individual batting score is by Ben McDermott, who scored 95* in one of the previous encounters, anchoring the Knights’ innings to victory.

Matches Played	Knights Won	Eastern Cape Won
10	5	5

Team Recent Performance

Team	Last 5 Matches	Wins	Losses
Knights	W, W, W, L, W	4	1
Eastern Cape	L, W, L, W, W	3	2

Ben McDermott - The Knights’ anchor batsman, he’s delivered consistent top-order runs, including a match-winning 95* this season.

Marco Jansen - An impactful fast bowler for Knights, recently picked wickets regularly in the death overs with excellent control.

Keegan Petersen - Reliable middle-order batsman for Eastern Cape, known for stabilizing innings under pressure with steady knocks.

Lungi Ngidi - Star fast bowler and handy lower-order batsman, he’s been lethal with the ball, picking crucial wickets consistently.

Aiden Markram - Dynamic batsman and part-time spinner for Eastern Cape; his recent form shows a good balance of aggression and technique.