Prince revels in rescue act

Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher created history with their sixth-wicket stand

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Ashwell Prince revealed South Africa’s early struggles in the second Test against Bangladesh in Centurion spurred him on to a match-winning knock of 162.

Prince and Mark Boucher came together to lead the Proteas fightback yesterday after the tourists had the hosts on the rack at 134 for five, the pair posting a record-breaking sixth-wicket stand of 271 to turn the match on its head.

The duo's stand of 271 beat Graeme Pollock and Tiger Lance's partnership of 200 in the Durban Test against Australia in 1970.

The pair’s efforts teed up an ultimate victory by an innings and 48 runs as the Proteas pace attack ended Bangladesh’s second innings inside 37 overs, and Prince revealed the pressure of situation was key to making his career-best Test score.

“We often get into situations like that, they don’t always come off, but I’m definitely more motivated coming into a situation like that,” said Prince, who was named both man of the match and series.

“The situation required a big partnership, and I’m just glad that Mark and I could come into that situation and get us out of trouble.”

While Prince and Boucher’s efforts had secured South Africa a decent first-innings lead, Bangladesh again rallied early today as spin bowler Shakib Al Hasan claimed three wickets in just four balls to skittle the Proteas tail.

Shakib’s efforts restricted South Africa’s first-innings lead to 179 runs, but the tourists never looked like surpassing that target, slumping to 131 all out inside 37 overs as the host secured a whitewash in the two-Test series.

Despite the glaring inconsistencies in Bangladesh’s game, Prince nevertheless had nothing but praise for the opposition.

The stand removes the record set in 1970 by Graeme Pollock (pictured) and Tiger Lance

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“Take nothing away from Bangladesh, they put us under pressure in this game and they played their part in the series as well,” he said.

Skipper Graeme Smith added that he had been impressed by the determination of his players, adding that the series had been a good exercise ahead of next month's tour of Australia.

“All the guys really worked hard,” Smith said. “The bowlers were really at it today - they took advantage of the wicket.

“The intensity with which we played today is the intensity with which we want to play in Australia. It was great to see today.”

Looking ahead to the tour Down Under, which begins in earnest with the first Test in Perth starting on December 17, Smith said: “We will have all bases covered and we will be best prepared as we can be.

“It will be about going out there and hopefully performing well in the field which we have done over the last year and a half.

“I have every faith with every guy that comes on tour with me to do the job and produce performances to make people proud of South Africa.”

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, meanwhile, was left to reflect on what might have been after seeing his team fail to capitalise on moments of real promise.

“The last two or three series we have played good cricket and unfortunately we have not finished it,” he said.

“I hope we will learn from being in this kind of position and in the future play well.”