CSA: Knights, Warriors in biggest danger of relegation – and one other unlikely scenario where WP could still be relegated

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The final round of fixtures in this season’s 4-Day Domestic Series, division one, will be played this week.

The Warriors will host the Dolphins and the Knights will host the Lions.

The Titans will host Boland and North West will host Western Province.

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Division one – all competitions – cumulative points table

*4-Day Domestic Series points and total points allocation will change.

Position | Team Points allocation – 4-Day | 1-Day | T20 Total points as of 3 April 2025
1. Lions 15* | 2 | 15 32*
2. Titans 10* | 7 | 10 27*
3. Boland 3* | 15 | 3 21*
4. Dolphins 7* | 10 | 1 18*
5. Western Province 5* | 0 | 5 10*
6. North West 1* | 1 | 7 9*
7. Warriors 0* | 5 | 2 7*
8. Knights 2* | 3 | 0 5*

“Even though the Lions comfortably lead the eight-team standings and appear to have one foot in the final with 110.14 points, they too will be feeling some nerves as they enter round seven,” read Wednesday’s media release from Cricket South Africa.

“The Johannesburg-based side travel to Bloemfontein to face a desperate Knights team at the Mangaung Oval – the sixth-placed hosts knowing they have to win to save themselves from relegation.

“For Russell Domingo’s Lions, the equation is simple – win and they will book their ticket to next week’s first-class final to be played over five days. Anything less than a win will, however, open the door for the chasing pack of the Titans, Dolphins, Western Province and Boland.

“Should the Lions draw, the second-placed Titans (94.1) and third-placed Dolphins (91.5) could leapfrog them by winning and earning enough bonus points.

“If the Lions lose on their trip to Free State, then even fourth-placed WP (88.84), who are away to North West in Potchefstroom, and Boland (85.96) in fifth will be in the mix should they manage substantial wins.

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“The battle at the bottom of the points table is a tense one with the Knights and Warriors seemingly in the biggest danger of relegation to division two.

“The Free Staters need to gain two log positions and finish at least fourth on the table to avoid relegation. To do this, their only option is to beat the log-leading Lions. However, this too may be out of their hands if two of the Titans, Dolphins, Western Province and Boland win their games.

JP Triegaardt’s charges could finish ahead of any of those teams with a substantial bonus-point triumph and defeats or low bonus-point draws for the trio.

“If the Knights do manage to get to fourth spot, then the Warriors are the team that would be relegated. The Eastern Cape outfit must win with substantial bonus points and hope the Dragons lose with fewer bonus points to get ahead of them.

Should this scenario play out, then the Warriors and Dragons will finish on eighth promotion-relegation points, with the former placed higher due to a better position on the first-class table.

“There is one other unlikely scenario where Western Province could still be relegated – if they fall to seventh with a heavy defeat and heavy swing of results in favour of their rivals.”

Meanwhile, the Tuskers have effectively secured promotion to division one for next season. This week, they are contesting the 4-Day Domestic Series, division two, final against Northern Cape in Pietermaritzburg.

Division two – all competitions – cumulative points table

*4-Day Domestic Series points and total points allocation will change.

Position | Team Points allocation – 4-Day | 1-Day | T20 Total points as of 3 April 2025
1. Tuskers 15* | 15 | 10 40*
2. Northern Cape 10* | 5 | 5 20*
3. Easterns 0* | 1 | 15 16*
4. Mpumalanga 7* | 7 | 1 15*
5. Border 5* | 10 | 0 15*
6. South Western Districts 3* | 3 | 7 13*
7. Limpopo 1* | 0 | 3 4*

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