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Page last updated at 19:04 GMT, Thursday, 27 November 2008

Record stand powers South Africa

Second Test, Centurion Park (day two, close):
South Africa 357-5 v Bangladesh 250

Mark Boucher
Wicketkeeper-batsman Boucher is unbeaten on 102 after day two

Unbeaten centuries from Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince saw South Africa rally from a slow start to take command of the second Test against Bangladesh.

The tourists had restricted the hosts to 192-5 at tea as Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets for 77 in Centurion.

But Prince and Boucher then combined for 223 runs - a new South Africa record for a sixth-wicket partnership - to push the total to 357 at stumps.

They now have a first-innings lead of 107 heading into the third day.

Prince's superb 115 not out included 16 fours and a six, while wicketkeeper-batsman Boucher added an unbeaten 102 as the duo's efforts eclipsed the previous sixth-wicket mark of 200 set by Graeme Pollock and Tiger Lance 39 years ago.

"It means a lot to me to get the team out of those sorts of situations. That gets the best out of me," said Prince.

It obviously helped having a partner like Mark [Boucher] because he is very experienced and always up for a fight

Ashwell Prince

"I've played in a few matches against Bangladesh when I've come in with 500 on the board and that sort of situation just doesn't stimulate me.

"It obviously helped having a partner like Mark because he is very experienced and always up for a fight.

"It was a tough situation, but Mark came in and stepped up the intensity. He scored some early boundaries and got going quickly."

The hosts resumed on an overnight score of 20-1 following Neil McKenzie's dismissal for a duck late in the final session on Wednesday but they failed to reach 50 as Graeme Smith was out lbw for 27, Mahbubul Alam claiming the skipper's wicket.

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis guided the hosts to lunch with a 50-run third-wicket partnership but their stand was ended early in the afternoon by Shakib's dismissal of Kallis as the tourists threatened to make a fight of the contest.

606: DEBATE
SAIDIAN

But South Africa's middle order took control as, following the wickets of Amla and De Villers, Prince and Boucher calmed any nerves to combine for 58 by the interval before taking the match away from the tourists in the final session of the day.

Prince's century was his 10th Test ton while Boucher's innings came off 158 balls - 10 more than his partner.

The right-handed Boucher racked up 14 boundaries on the way to his fifth Test century.

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see also
Uncapped paceman wins SA call-up
22 Nov 08 |  South Africa
Behind the Dale Steyn fairytale
08 Jul 08 |  South Africa
Kenya & Bangladesh in SA 2008
10 Nov 08 |  Cricket


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