AFTER an eight wicket hammering at the hands of Border last weekend, Griquas captain Pat Symcox will be a worried man on Thursday night.
After the first day of their Supersport Series match against the Northerns Titans at the De Beers Oval, the Titans had amassed an ominous 376 for three thanks to a third wicket stand of 223 by Rudi Steyn and Martin van Jaarsveld.
With Griquas clearly suffering the loss of former, and now retired, captain Kepler Wessels, the next three days do not bode well for the hosts.
After the early loss of Quentin Still for 5, Steyn and new signing Neil McKenzie put on 76 for the second wicket before McKenzie was caught behind for 41 off 91 balls (5×4).
That brought Van Jaarsveld to the wicket and he and Steyn went about utterly destroying the Griquas attack for most of the day.
Steyn batted for just over three and a half hours for his 145, faced 255 balls and stroked 16 fours and two sixes and mixed in two chances when he had scored 48 and 96.
At the close, Van Jaarsveld’s played a chanceless innings of 143 (210 balls, 266 minutes, 18×4) and with Gerald Dros (25 not out) will look to hammer home the advantage on Friday.