GRIQUAS are 176 runs ahead going into the third day of a match that seems headed for a stalemate because of a moribund pitch. No Griquas batsman had much chance to take advantage of the favourable conditions on Friday because Kepler Wessels declared (400/4) at lunchtime after Piet Barnard had spurred matters along with a brisk 73 not out to help his team add 133 to their overnight score. However, Adam Bacher and Sven Koenig needed no second bidding. Gauteng’s opening stand of 216 was ended four overs before the close when Koenig hit another spot of 90s madness – an unhappy habit he has made his own – by edging a ball from part-time medium pacer Loots Bosman into Wendell Bossenger’s gloves to be out for 99. No such cruel luck befell Bacher, however, and by the close he had reached 111 not out, his eighth century coming up off 176 balls and with 13 fours and two sixes. The most efficient operator on this bowling desert was left-arm seamer Adri Swanepoel, whose 11 overs cost 20 runs.–MWP