Strikers clamber out of a hole

Johannesburg October 23) - The Highveld Strikers dug themselves out of a very deep hole to force a draw with Griqualand West on the final day of their four-day Supersport Series match at the Wanderers on Monday.

Set a target of 427 declared, the Strikers were bowled out for 184 in their first innings, highlighted only by the 94 from Sven Koenig.

But a far better batting display in the follow-on enabled the home team to snatch the draw.

Koenig got the innings off to a solid start with his 108. But it was a few niggling partnerships lower down the batting order that really stumped Griquas.

Nic Pothas combined with Geoffrey Toyana in a sixth-wicket stand that yelded 50 runs.

Ottis Gibson and Solly Ndima weighed in with a valuable 53-run partnership for the eighth wicket as the Strikers began building a lead.

And literally the last straw for Martyn Gidley's Griquas was the Strikers' last wicket stand of 43 by Mulligan George and David Terbrugge.

That partnership helped the Strikers to a lead of 141 runs and with 17 overs left for the day.

It set up what would have been an exciting chase by Griquas, but Gidley declined the offer.

The Griquas skipper made the questionable decision not to chase, settling on the draw with a surprised Striker's captain Clive Eksteen.

"I was surprised that they didn't want to have a go of it because I didn't see us bowling them out in 17 overs. Generally, you would want to see positive cricket. But they obviously felt they weren't up to the challenge," Eksteen said.

But Gidley defended his decision.

"The guys were really tired and it would've been a tough ask against their bowling attack and on a pitch that was getting more variable.

"But it was a fantastic effort by the team. It would've been nice to win. There is the thought that perhaps this was our best chance of an away win, and it's fair to ask why we didn't chase. But I really think it would've been difficult against their bowling attack," he said.

For Eksteen, there was probably some sense of a let-off.

"Our discipline was really poor at the start of this match. We bowled poorly in the first innings and that put us under pressure. But it was a case of rectifying that, and it was good to see the guys fight their way back into this game."