Prince inspired by Aussie batsmen

South Africa's century-maker Ashwell Prince said he had drawn strength from Australia's Ashes performance, during the second Test against India.

Prince, 98 not out after day one, went on to make 121 after watching coverage of Matthew Hayden's 153 and Andrew Symonds' unbeaten 154 against England.

"I was up early this morning watching the Aussies get all the runs, hoping I'd get a hundred too," said Prince.

"It's pleasing for me but it will mean a lot more if we can win the match."

Prince's fifth Test century and third of the year took South Africa to 328 and a lead of 225 after the visitors closed on 103-3 following an early finish because of bad light.
Prince, who was out for 97 in the first Test, had converted just 15 of his 33 first-class half-centuries into hundreds before this match.

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 significance of his skipper Graeme Smith's dropped chance at slip when Sachin Tendulkar got a thick edge on 21.

Tendulkar was 46 not out at the close with partner VVS Laxman unbeaten on 10.

"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."

Smith was keen to stay on the field when the umpires offered India the light half an hour after tea but Prince insisted the extra time allowed on Thursday could be to South Africa's advantage.

"Hopefully we can nip out one or two batsmen in that extra half hour," he said.

"Then if the sun comes out perhaps some cracks will open up on days three and four and it might be interesting on day five.

"It's a big match, we're one down and we need to get a win to go to Cape Town 1-1."

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 123 runs.

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