Rudolph so close to century

JACQUES Rudolph came within a run of celebrating his return to the Yorkshire ranks as bottom-placed Hampshire endured another difficult day at the Rose Bowl.

South African Rudolph, who only rejoined the club last week, seemed sure to score the 43rd century of his first-class career until he drove spinner Imran Tahir to short mid-wicket where Dominic Cork clutched a low catch.

Rudolph’s dismissal after 211 balls and 11 fours and a six came as a surprise because the tidy left hander had offered no hint of a chance until then.

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His dismissal was a rare moment of success for Hampshire as Yorkshire, after winning the toss, finished on a respectable 318-3 at the end of the first day from 105 overs.

It was practically the only false shot played by Rudolph, whose innings helped Yorkshire to 211-3 at the interval.

The only wicket to fall during the afternoon session was that of captain Andrew Gale, who was also caught at mid-wicket - this time by James Vince - off Tahir for 54.

Joe Sayers was the first man to fall, the left-handed opener superbly caught by wicketkeeper Michael Bates, diving to his left, off Chris Wood for eight.

Sayers batted 55 minutes and faced 50 balls.

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Rudolph and Gale had taken the attack to the Hampshire bowlers, particularly spinners Tahir and Danny Briggs.

Rudolph reached his half-century just before lunch from 92 deliveries when he lofted Briggs for six over mid-wicket.

After tea, McGrath and Ballance went on to enjoy an unbroken stand of 114 for the fourth wicket.

McGrath was missed at short leg by Jimmy Adams off Tahir at 20 but went in at the close unbeaten with 65 in an innings so far made up of 188 balls and including five fours.

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The aggressive Ballance reached his half century just before stumps and was 50 not out with eight fours.

Wood’s miserly start helped him to respectable figures of one for 42 from 18 overs while Tahir was the most successful in terms of wickets with two for 89 from 31 overs.

Yorkshire: Sayers, Rudolph, McGrath, Gale, Brophy, Ballance, Rashid, Shahzad, Pyrah, Sidebottom, Wainwright.