RUNS, runs and more runs. So it would seem after Griquas ground their way to what seems an imposing total in the making on the flattest of pitches, scoring 267/2 on the opening day of their Supersport Series match against Gauteng. Mickey Arthur and Martyn Gidley were so bored with what was supposed to be a contest between them and the Gauteng new ball bowlers that they forget to score runs. What other explanation could there be for Griquas crawling to 53 without loss in the opening session after Kepler Wessels won the toss and – wait for it – elected to bat. The first session even featured 10 overs of spin, but neither captain Clive Eksteen nor the reluctant Gautie, Derek Crookes, could go where their seam attack had failed to go before them. Restricting the batsmen to five runs in those 10 overs was cold comfort. Things picked up somewhat in the second session, which yielded 109 runs and saw both Arthur and Gidley venture out of their shells somewhat. Gidley was first to go for a round 100, his eighth century, off 236 balls and including 13 fours and two sixes. Arthur’s 10th ton ended on 128 after he had faced 311 deliveries and hit 20 fours. Thrilling stuff it was not, and that man Wessels scored two runs off the 21 balls he faced on Thursday. The best, we fervently hope, has yet to come. –MWP