WATCH: Ashwell Prince had a massive impact in the way I bat, says Proteas hero Kyle Verreynne

Johannesburg - Kyle Verreynne paid tribute to his former franchise coach, Ashwell Prince for the patience and work he put in with him, that provided the foundation for his elevation to international cricket.

Verreynne made a stunning maiden Test century at critical time in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Monday that put the Proteas on the brink of a series tying win heading into the fifth day.

“To get across the line and make a contribution in this game and for the team is something I’m really proud of,” he said after scoring an unbeaten 136, that saw him spend just under five hours, in which he faced 187 balls and hit 16 fours and a six.

Prince, who played 66 Tests, and coached the then Cape Cobras, has championed Verreynne’s cause for years even going so far as to state that the 26 year old could play in the same side as Quinton de Kock.

“At franchise level ‘Ashy P’ definitely had a massive impact in the way I bat and the way I’ve moulded my game, so obviously I’ve got to give a lot of credit to him,” said Verreynne. “ Firstly there is the belief he had in me and all the opportunities he gave me.”

Following the implementation of ’bio secure environments’ because of Covid and thus the need for bigger squads, Verreynne was called up to the Proteas as back up to De Kock. His domestic record certainly justified his selection, and while an average of over 50 stood out, it was more a case of when he scored his runs that was such a feature of his batting.

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In a Cobras unit, that struggled following the departure of David Bedingham to England and Andrew Puttick’s retirement, Verreynne became a mainstay in the batting order and he