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Having taken 16.34 points from the game, the Knights are now the early frontrunners in the competition, which will take a two-month break as the players begin the Momentum One-Day Cup, although the Lions pocketed 7.98 to limit the Knights’ overall lead to 4.18 points.
A result seemed unlikely when the Knights were bowled out for 381 in their second innings to leave the Lions just a session and a half to bat out, but the Knights kept on picking up wickets as only Thami Tsolekile held firm.
The final day began with the Knights on 267 for two, leading by 166, but they lost Rudi Second for 74 in the second over of the day and Tumelo Bodibe soon after as Aaron Phangiso struck twice.
Centurion Gihahn Cloete extended his score to 135 before he was out to Lonwabo Tsotsobe, before Hardus Viljoen picked up three further wickets to claim his five-wicket bag.
Viljoen ended with figures of 5 for 77 as Kagiso Rabada grabbed the last two wickets of the innings.
Despite making short work of the Knights middle and lower order the Lions had a target of 281, which was never in prospect.
Survival was, therefore, the aim, but only Tsolekile was capable of that. Malusi Siboto struck two early blows, Corne Dry chipped in with two wickets of his own and then Coetsee got stuck in.
Tsolekile was last man out for 56 as Coetsee finished with 4 for 34 plus his half-century from the first innings in a 143-run victory.
