George Linde claimed career-best figures to help the Cape Cobras finish off the Knights and seal their first 4-Day Franchise Series win in their final match of the season.
The Cobras went on to record an innings and 215 runs against the Central Franchise at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
Linde ended with figures of seven for 29 as the home side effectively knocked the Knights out of contention for next week's final, which will now be contested between the Dolphins and the Titans in Durban on Thursday.
The winning margin was also the biggest for the Cape side in their history and remarkably earned them a first first-class win since they beat the Titans at Oudtshoorn way back in January 2019.
The Cobras failed to win a single game last season and faced a repeat scenario this year until this victory.
It was all built around Pieter Malan's record-breaking 264 that set them on their way, with Ashwell Prince's side entering day four of the game needing just three wickets to wrap up proceedings.
They started with a bang thanks to Linde, with the slow left-armer making a breakthrough in just the fourth over of the morning when he took out Duan Jansen on five to complete his 14th career five-wicket haul.
After some brief resistance by Alfred Mothoa (8), Linde removed the medium-pacer and Mbulelo Budaza (0) in successive deliveries to seal the resounding win, one that beat the Cobras’ previous win of an innings and 166 runs versus the Dolphins at Paarl in 2010/11.
Linde's figures also beat his seven 64 taken against the Imperial Lions at Potchefstroom in 2019/20.
Farhaan Behardien was left unbeaten on 48 as the Knights were left to rue what might have been - Allan Donald's team bowled out for 127 in their second innings.