Wilkinson and Boje hold Free State together

Louis Wilkinson scored 169 and Nicky Boje made 77 to rescue Free State's first innings against Griqualand West in Kimberley as their SuperSport Series match started on Friday.

Their fourth-wicket stand of 184 began after the visitors had been reduced to 52 for three in the 17th over. Boje's eventual dismissal to break the partnership marked the start of a slide that saw seven wickets fall for 116.

Griquas faced six overs before the close and were 11 without loss. Mickey Arthur was seven not out with Martyn Gidley on four.

Boeta Dippenaar, for a 12-ball duck, Gerhardus Liebenberg for four and Wiaan Smit for 14 were Griquas' early successes, or should that be Free State's early failures as it was more a case of catching practice in the arc behind the wicket than the batsmen being removed.

Then Wilkinson and Boje set about reclaiming the lost ground, in emphatic fashion. Neither offered a chance on a perfect batting pitch against an attack which grew weary and impatient under the merciless Kimberley sun.

Wilkinson's 169 came off 201 balls and all but 45 runs of it was lashed in boundaries - 25 fours and four sixes. Boje clipped his 77 off 105 deliveries, and he was also in boundary-hitting mode with 10 fours and three sixes.

But no sooner had Free State nudged matters in their favour than Griquas surged back. Boje was trapped in front by leg-spinner Craig Copeland before, four overs later, Copeland caught and bowled Kosie Venter for eight. An hour after that off-spinner Pieter Koortzen had Wilkinson caught behind.

The best the lower middle order had to offer was the 40 scored by Gerard Brophy before he fell as one of fast bowler Zahir Abrahim's four victims, claimed at the cost of 68 runs.