Proteas on top

1:43pm Sunday 20th July 2008

Centurion Ashwell Prince was finally prised out by England at Headingley - but not before he had re-written South Africa's record books.

Prince marked the 27th anniversary of Ian Botham's famous Ashes 149 on the same ground with a replica score, having shared a new record fifth-wicket stand against England with AB de Villiers.

The pair shared 212 before debutant Darren Pattinson made Prince his second Test victim, but de Villiers celebrated three figures shortly before lunch as the Proteas progressed to 384 for five on day three of the second Test - a lead of 181 runs.

England certainly beat the bat with greater regularity than they managed yesterday, but had to wait for Australia-raised Pattinson's introduction for the first success for 75 overs.

Pattinson - again the last member of England's four-strong seam attack to be used by Michael Vaughan - got one to keep its line from round the wicket to have left-hander Prince caught behind.

Before then, de Villiers forced a four past cover in Stuart Broad's first over of the day to take him and Prince beyond South Africa's previous best for the fifth wicket against England - Gary Kirsten and Mark Boucher's 192 at Durban in 1999.

Prince needed 13 deliveries to add to his overnight 134 but eventually reached his Test best, and brought up the 200 stand for good measure, with a cover-drive on the up for four off Broad.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff did create the chance for a sixth wicket before the interval but Alastair Cook spurned a low opportunity at second slip to afford Mark Boucher a life on eight.

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