Boje puts pressure on Griqualand West with all-round display

Nicky Boje scored a sparkling 105 for Free State to all but shut Griqualand West out of the game after three days.

The ton brought up a hat trick of noteworthy achievements for Boje in the match, following his 77 on the first day and his haul of five for 67 on the second.

At the close, Griquas, who were dismissed for 277 in their first innings, had slipped to 50 for two in search of a victory target of 356. Free State totalled 352 in their first innings and declared their second closed on 280 for five, leaving Griquas to face the last 20 overs of the third day.

The home side were soon in trouble, losing their experienced opening pair of Mickey Arthur and Martyn Gidley in the 11th and 12th overs to spinners Kosie Venter and Boje.

Nightwatchman Craig Tatton, who was five not out, and Grant Elliott, on 13, saw them to the close without further damage.

Free State resumed their second innings on five without loss with a lead of 80 runs. However, they were in danger of wasting that advantage when they slumped to 71 for three shortly after lunch, losing those wickets in the space of six overs following an opening stand of 63 between Boeta Dippenaar and Gerhardus Liebenberg.

But instead of Free State's wheels falling off, Wiaan Smit and Boje embarked on a fourth-wicket partnership of 180 to keep the visitors on top. Smit and Boje halted Griquas' progress for 41 overs until, after tea, Boje heaved a delivery from off-spinner Pieter Koortzen to midwicket. He faced 126 balls and hit 15 fours and a six in a wonderfully enterprising innings that saw him exploit his full range of strokes.

Six overs later Smit was bowled by Zahir Abrahim for 94, having faced 160 deliveries and hit 11 fours and a six in a more circumspect innings. His dismissal prompted the declaration.