Prince century takes South Africa past 300

DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 27 (Reuters) Ashwell Prince scored his fifth century to guide South Africa to 328 all out on the second morning of the second test against India today.

The patient Prince, who took guard after South Africa were reduced to 28 for three on Tuesday, was ninth man out for 121 after batting for five hours in which he faced 212 balls and hit 16 fours.

At the lunch interval, India had reached 24-1 in reply.

South Africa resumed on 257-8 and Prince, who was 98 not out, reached his century in the third over of the morning 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 VVS Laxman at second slip.

Morkel, who scored an 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 4-109, while Kumble claimed 3-62.

South Africa came back out onto the field fairly fired up and paceman Andre Nel struck with the fifth ball of India's reply when Virender Sehwag edged a drive to second slip, where AB de Villiers took a spectacular diving catch.

Sehwag was out for a first-ball duck and India were 5-1 but Wasim Jaffer (10) and Rahul Dravid (7) steadied the innings until the interval.

REUTERS AY BD1613