The left-handed South African batsman registered his highest first-class score in the latest round of the County Championship. GARETH STEVENS reports.

A sun-soaked day in England saw runs flow around the county circuit. A number of batsmen made the most of the favourable conditions, but Ashwell Prince was the greediest of the lot, amassing 257 not out in Lancashire’s first innings against Northamptonshire at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Prince batted majestically, passing his previous best of 254. Andrew Hall was on the receiving end with the ageing all-rounder bowler claiming 2-105 in 27 overs.

The mammoth total of 650-6 should mean that the remainder of the match is a matter of survival for Northamptonshire. Lancashire, on the other hand, will target 20 wickets to complete victory. It will be tough for the batsmen to survive after spending so much time in the field.

Prince is playing his final season of first-class cricket, after announcing his retirement from the game at the end of the South African domestic season, and will be pleased that he is cashing in while he still can.

Playing for Glamorgan, former Proteas opener Jacques Rudolph scored 139, his second Championship century in succession, in a strong reply to Gloucestershire’s strong first innings of 391. Glamorgan erased the deficit with six first innings wickets remaining and will attempt to push on to a match winning position overnight.

Meanwhile, new Proteas Test captain Hashim Amla spent some valuable time at the wicket after a difficult start to the season for Surrey. The Proteas skipper scored 71 in Surrey’s first innings at The Oval. They declared on 522-9 and will hope to get some wickets in the evening session.

Amla will hope to take some form into the Proteas’ tour of Sri Lanka, which begins in just two weeks.