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Prince writes his name in the record books
Ashwell Prince wrote his name into the record books as he dominated the second day of the SuperSport Series match between the Chevrolet Warriors and the Nashua Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.
There was no doubting Prince's immense skill or his determination to make a point as he scored 254 to allow the Warriors to declare their first innings closed on 548 for six.
Apart from beating his personal best score of 184 for Western Province/Boland against the Highveld Lions in Paarl in 2004/5, Prince's 554-minute epic was also the highest score ever at SuperSport Park, the highest score for the Warriors and the biggest score ever conceded by the Titans.
The Titans, greeting the challenge of such a massive total with alacrity, reached 151 for two at stumps, which was called seven overs early due to bad light.
Heino Kuhn, restored to opening the batting and on 62 not out, and Gulam Bodi on 15 will be the batsmen who will resume on the third morning.
The Warriors let Kuhn and Jacques Rudolph settle after claiming the early wicket of Tumelo Bodibe for 12 and the pair put on 99 for the second wicket before Rudolph edged a well-bowled delivery by Makhaya Ntini to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Rudolph looked as elegant as ever as he stroked 58 off 80 balls, with seven fours and a six.
Bodi managed to survive the last 38 minutes before stumps without doing anything silly.
Kuhn was a little more shy than Rudolph to have a go, but at least ensured he lived to fight another day as the Titans look to keep their unbeaten SuperSport Series run alive.
Prince put aside any hard feelings over his treatment by the national selectors as he tore into the bowling for 356 balls, hitting 28 fours and eight sixes.
A tiring Prince eventually fell shortly after lunch when he failed to notice an Ethy Mbhalati slower ball and clipped a catch to midwicket.
Fellow opener Jon-Jon Smuts (46), Boucher (63) and Johan Botha (76 not out) were the other run-scorers of note in the Warriors' massive first innings.
But if the Warriors bowlers had any illusions about routing the Titans on the excellent batting pitch then they were quickly dashed as the home side reached 42 for one at tea.
Bodibe was the one batsman to fall, a hesitant prod at a Wayne Parnell delivery that gained surprising swing back into the right-hander, sending an inside edge to Boucher.
Prince had marched on and even managed to change up a gear as his magnificent 249 not out took the Warriors to 473 for five at lunch.
Prince, who began the day on 171 not out, was once again lord of all he surveyed, unruffled and clearly enjoying himself as he unveiled some marvellous strokes once he had reached 200.
The flip side of his innings, however, is that if opening the batting prompts such a phenomenal response from the national vice-captain, maybe it should have been his position all along.
Prince reached his double century after eight hours at the crease off 301 balls, prompting a flurry of runs as he scored his next 54 off just 55 deliveries, with four fours and three sixes.
A ragged Titans bowling attack did manage to claim at least one wicket in the morning session, however, Albie Morkel snatching the prized scalp of Boucher, caught in the slips by Rudolph to end a fifth-wicket stand of 127.
But Botha then joined Prince and was soon into his stride as he reached his 76 not out off 109 balls with six fours and two sixes.
Teams:
Nashua Titans - Heino Kuhn, Gulam Bodi, Jacques Rudolph, AB de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien, Albie Morkel, Pierre Joubert (capt), Tumelo Bodibe, Ethy Mbhalati, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel
Chevrolet Warriors - Ashwell Prince, Jon-Jon Smuts, Zander de Bruyn, Arno Jacobs, Davy Jacobs (capt), Mark Boucher, Robin Peterson, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Makhaya Ntini
