CENTURION, South Africa, 13 March 2005 — Ashwell Prince hit a maiden Test century as South Africa took a first innings lead on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Centurion Park yesterday.

Prince made 101 not out as South Africa reached 380 for six at the close in reply to Zimbabwe’s 269 all out, a lead of 111.

For South Africa, though, it was a hard struggle against spirited opponents who came back strongly after being hammered by an innings and 21 runs inside two days in the first Test in Cape Town.

It was only when Prince and Jacques Kallis (58) shared a sixth wicket stand of 119 that South Africa took control. Kallis batted at No. 7 after suffering a hip injury while bowling Friday.

AB de Villiers (47) and skipper Graeme Smith (41) got South Africa off to a rapid start, putting on 93 and scoring at better than five runs an over before Smith’s dismissal in the 18th over caused a change in the tempo of the innings.

The scoring rate slowed and it was not until Prince and Kallis came together that a South African batsman was able to score a half-century. Teenage leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, who was hammered for 86 runs in nine overs in the first Test — although he took three wickets — bowled unchanged from shortly before lunch until the evening drinks break, taking two for 105 in 26 overs.

He also dismissed Jacques Rudolph and Mark Boucher

Veteran opening bowler Heath Streak took two for 57, taking the important wickets of Herschelle Gibbs, who made 47, and Kallis.

Former captain Streak took over the leadership role late in the afternoon when Tatenda Taibu injured his right shoulder while leaping to take a bouncer from Streak, bowling with the second new ball. Brendan Taylor took over the wicketkeeping gloves from Taibu.

The left-handed Prince, 27, had not made a half-century in eight previous Tests.

He made 49 on debut against Australia three years ago but was dropped in the 2002-03 season after some disappointing performances. He was recalled for the first Test against Zimbabwe but did not bat.

Working the ball well into the gaps and strong on the cut, the stocky Prince reached his fifty off 84 balls with a six and six fours. His century was scored off 155 balls with 13 fours and two sixes. Resuming at 13 for no wicket, Smith and de Villiers scored 36 runs off the first four overs yesterday as they sought to give South Africa a foundation for a second win in the two- match series.