Cricket latest: Rudolph inspires Yorkshire to convincing position

JACQUES RUDOLPH piled up a career-best 228 not out as Yorkshire extended their first innings to a mammoth 610 for six before declaring on the second day of the LV= County Championship match with holders Durham at Headingley.

And Yorkshire tightened their grip even further as Adil Rashid claimed two wickets in two balls late in the day for Durham to close on 54 for three, still trailing by 556 and requiring a further 407 to avoid the possibility of the follow-on.

South African left-hander Rudolph never gave a chance during his seven and-three-quarter-hour occupation of the crease and when his side was called in with 18 overs of the day remaining he had faced 389 balls and stroked 35 fours.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His previous best score was an unbeaten 222 on his Test debut for South Africa against Bangladesh seven years ago and he beat by eight runs his previous highest knock for Yorkshire, against Warwickshire at Scarborough in his debut season of 2007.

Durham, who are already without several leading fast bowlers because of injuries, found themselves further handicapped when Dale Benkenstein spent long spells off the field having treatment after twisting his knee while running out Anthony McGrath.

The weary visitors used nine bowlers in a futile attempt to stem the runs and three of them conceded in excess of 100 runs, Liam Plunkett going for 110 without picking up a wicket.

Click here to read Chris Waters' report of day one >>

Keep checking the website for updates throughout the day.