Prince grinds out Proteas lead

Ashwell Prince celebrates his splendid ninth Test hundred on day two

Ashwell Prince’s stout, unbeaten 134 seized the initiative for South Africa on day two of the second npower Test as the tourists ground out a commanding 119-run first-innings lead at Headingley Carnegie.

Prince cracked a resolute hundred from 194 balls to complement his century in the first Test at Lord’s and combined with AB de Villiers (70 not out) in a 179-run stand that put South Africa firmly in the box seat.

England’s only success came in the morning session when Darren Pattinson picked up his maiden Test wicket by trapping Hashim Amla leg before.

However, the day belonged to Prince as he dominated a subdued home attack, regularly driving hard down the ground and giving spinner Monty Panesar food for thought after launching him for two huge sixes in successive overs during the afternoon session.

Play was initially delayed following an initial morning shower, but the sun soon poked through and beat down on a pitch that gave up 13 wickets for just 304 runs on day one.

Following an equally bright start by Prince and Hashim Amla, Vaughan called on Pattinson to appear first change at the Kirkstall Lane end after an ineffective opening burst from James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff.

Prince pulled the Grimsby-born bowler comprehensively to the rope off the final ball of his opening over, but the 29-year-old made amends shortly afterwards when he speared in a full toss that Amla played all round to be given out leg before.

Darren Pattinson celebrates a rare monent of joy for England after picking up the wicket of Hashim Amla

Incoming batsman AB de Villiers - without a Test duck in 72 knocks - was then nearly sent back second ball when Pattinson sent down a ripping outswinger that threatened the outside edge.

It was a rare bright moment for England as de Villiers and Prince, having seen out a tricky period before lunch, began to assert themselves on an easy paced, unforgiving wicket.

Prince looked in the same vein of form that brought him a gutsy hundred in the first Test and he collected the first boundary after lunch with a sumptuous drive on the up off Pattinson, a stroke he replicated to gain three runs off Anderson the following over.

Panesar’s introduction to proceedings after 59 overs received a generous ovation from a packed Headingley audience, although he failed to trouble either batsman and was soon on the receiving end of a huge six at the hands of Prince.

The stocky left-hander scooted down the wicket and launched the spinner high over long-on to bring up his eighth Test half-century, his six adding to the seven boundaries he had previously stroked in 120 balls.

Prince’s vigil was the first half-century in the game and he further signalled his intent when he again raced down the track in Panesar’s next over, sending a good-length ball fizzing further into the stands for his second six.

It brought up the 200 for South Africa as they progressed quickly past England’s target to turn the screw and inflict further misery.

De Villiers, who saw a top edge off Pattinson loop over midwicket, proved a worthy ally for Prince as he moved quietly into the forties having displayed a glimpse of his talents.

The right-hander looked at home facing the spin of Panesar, emphatically sweeping the left-armer through square-leg for one of his seven boundaries.

Prince deservedley celebrates after reaching 100 for the second time so far in the npower Test series

England’s second new ball tactics of employing Flintoff and Anderson applied some much-needed pressure on South Africa, and the former had a close leg-before shout against Prince rightly waved away by umpire Billy Bowden.

It summed up England’s day that Prince convincingly jabbed the next ball straight down the ground to take him to 99, and in the following over he tucked Anderson off his hip to bring up a chanceless, classy ninth Test hundred.

His second hundred in as many innings encompassed 194 balls in more than four hours, with 11 fours to accompany the brace of sixes off Panesar.

The pair continued on unflustered after tea, with Prince continuing his remarkable innings by repeatedly picking the gaps straight back past the bowler.

England found some welcome swing as the evening session wore on, although centurion Prince merely countered the movement by playing authoritatively through the line to collect a series of picturesque boundaries through mid off and covers.

At the other end De Villiers, who incurred the wrath of England yesterday in one of the two grounded catch furores and had looked a touch scratchy early in his innings, was content to curb his attacking instincts and play second fiddle to Prince.

It was almost something of a surprise when the 24-year-old notched up his 14th Test fifty, having faced 126 balls during a stay four minutes short of three hours, although he nimbly flashed an Anderson delivery to the fence immediately after raising his bat to remind England of his attacking prowess.

It was clear that England were in need of some divine intervention, and the forecast rain duly made an appearance in the evening session.

It cut short play and following another short session South Africa took the offer of bad light before a short storm fully ended the day’s play.