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Durban, South Africa, Dec 27 Reuters - South African Ashwell Prince drew inspiration from Australia's batsmen to score his fifth test century on the second day of the second test against India today.
Prince top scored with 121 in South Africa's first innings of 328 and, when bad
play ended play 34.2 overs early, India were 103 for three in reply.
Sachin Tendulkar, who was dropped at slip on 21, was 46 not out with Vangipurappu Laxman on 10.
Prince, 98 not out overnight, said he had watched the television broadcast of Matthew Hayden's 153 and Andrew Symonds' undefeated 154 in the fourth test against England in Melbourne.
"I was up early this morning watching the Aussies get all the runs and a few guys getting hundreds, hoping that I would get one too," Prince said.
Prince's innings was his third century of a year that started with the 119 he scored against Australia in Sydney in January.
"That gave me a lot of confidence to believe that I can play at this level," he said.
Before the second test, Prince had converted just 15 of the 33 first-class half-centuries he had scored into centuries. In test matches he had gone on to three figures each time he had reached 50.
"If you look at my first-class record you will see that I have scored a lot more fifties than hundreds, and when I came into the test arena I realised that was an area in which I needed to up my game," Prince said.
"To make big contributions to the team cause I needed to make hundreds and not just fifties."
Prince played down the possible cost of the chance South Africa squandered when Graeme Smith at first slip dropped Tendulkar off the bowling of medium pacer Andrew Hall.
"Sachin is a great batsman, but these things happen," Prince said. "It's unfortunate, but we've just got to keep our heads up and take the next chance."
After South Africa had resumed on 257 for eight, Prince reached his century in the third over of the day when he drove Shanta Sreesanth through the covers for four.
Prince and debutant Morne Morkel added 39 for the ninth wicket before Sreesanth had Prince smartly caught by Laxman at second slip, reaching above his head to take the catch.
The patient Prince, who took guard after South Africa were reduced to 28 for three on Tuesday, was ninth out after batting for five hours during which he faced 212 balls and hit 16 fours.
Morkel, who scored a polished unbeaten 31, and Makhaya Ntini shared another 32 runs in a useful partnership for the last wicket.
Leg spinner Anil Kumble ended the innings when he trapped Ntini in front for 16. Sreesanth took four for 109 while Kumble claimed three for 62.
Fast bowler Andre Nel struck with the fifth ball of India's reply when Virender Sehwag edged a drive to second slip, where AB de Villiers dived backward and to his right to take a spectacular catch. Sehwag had faced just the one ball and Iindia had only five runs on the board.
Opener Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid were separated in the third over after lunch, when Nel trapped Dravid in front for 11.
India were 61 for three an hour later when fast bowler Ntini had Jaffer caught by De Villiers at second slip for 26.
- REUTERS