Ton-up Verreynne hails former coach Ashwell Prince: 'He's had a massive impact on me'

It has taken Kyle Verreynne a little while to get going in Proteas Test colours, but those who have been following his career at domestic level will not be surprised that he has now arrived on the international stage. 

The 24-year-old carded a stunning 136* on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Monday, setting his side up beautifully for a shot at a series-leveling victory on Tuesday. 

Going into the fifth and final day, South Africa need six weeks to win while New Zealand need another 332 for what would be an unlikely triumph. 

Win or lose, Verreynne's contribution was key to the visitors, and this was the knock he needed to show that he belonged at this level. 

In his five previous Tests before this, Verreynne had averaged a touch over 15 with a highest score of 30.

His domestic numbers, however, paint the picture of a player more in line with the performance dished up on Monday. 

Verreynne has played all of his first-class cricket in Cape Town with Western Province, and he averages a remarkable 50.47 in red ball domestic cricket. 

Because of those numbers, he is a player that comes highly rated, particularly in the Western Cape, and few would have seen and understood that talent and potential better than Ashwell Prince. 

A superb Test middle-order batter himself, with 11 centuries in that format, Prince was coach at the Cape Cobras as Verreynne was breaking through into the senior side. 

Verreynne, who has now surely secured an extended run in the Test side, took a moment after play on Monday to acknowledge his former mentor. 

"My whole franchise career has basically been played with Ashy P [Prince] as my coach, so he has definitely had a massive impact on the way I bat and the way I've