da heads bet： Sven Koenig was the lone pillar of resistance for the Strikers on a third day when they were forced to follow on in their Supersport Series match against Griqualand West at the Wanderers
MWP22-Oct-2000Sven Koenig was the lone pillar of resistance for the Strikers on a third day when they were forced to follow on in their Supersport Series match against Griqualand West at the Wanderers.The innings of the home team began spiralling out of control when they crashed to 75 for four wickets at the end of play on Saturday.Their journey downwards continued on Sunday morning, with Copeland (5-52) and Kruis (4-43) giving it momentum with their impressive bowling.The result was that the Strikers were bundled out for a first innings total of 184 shortly after lunch and still a long way off Griquas’ first innings total of 427-4 declared.But Koenig provided some relief for a team that looks nothing like theside that won the Supersport Series title last year.Koenig carried over his solid form from pre-season games. He resumed on his overnight score of 36, and climbed to 94 before being caught at extra cover by Mickey Arthur off a full toss from Copeland.With his side falling well short of the necessary 278 needed to avoid the follow on, Koenig was again the backbone during the Strikers’ second tenure at the crease.He finished the day with an unbeaten 76, and was involved in two valuable partnerships.The first was with opening partner Adam Bacher, with the duo putting on62 runs for the first wicket before Bacher was dismissed for 35 shortly after tea.Andre Seymore then improved ever so slightly on his duck in the firstinnings with six in the second to see the Strikers limping along at 84-2.Koenig and Zander de Bruyn then provided some much-needed stability, asthey had with their first innings partnership of 52 runs.Their third-wicket stand of 73 on Sunday was ended when De Bruyn wascaught behind by Bossenger off the bowling of Pieter Koortzen.Clive Eksteen came in as the night watchman for the Strikers, to see his side through to the close on 163 for the loss of three wickets.