Yorkshire v Worcestershire, County Championship Day One

YORKSHIRE completed their first century opening partnership in the County Championship for nearly two years, but in the end rain left them frustrated after day one of their opening home fixture against Worcestershire at Headingley.

The excellent Jacques Rudolph and Joe Sayers shared 123 runs before Sayers finally fell for 49, top-edging a pull to wicketkeeper Simon Davies off Chris Whelan.

After a barren run of form it was his best score in nearly two seasons but, like the rest of his team, the overall feeling was one of frustration from the 25-year-old, who was looking for his first half century for 22 months.

“I’m disappointed not to have made a big score”, said Sayers.

“I’ve been pleased with the way I am hitting the ball in training, so it was nice to do the same out in the middle.

“There is a need for us to have a strong partnership at the top of the order this summer and it was pleasing to get a good start with Jacques.

“I am aware that someone should be a consistent and reliable scorer and, hopefully, this is just the beginning for me”

Sayers was dropped on just three by Moeen Ali at shortleg, but after surviving that scare and only scoring in four of his first 50 deliveries, he improved as the day went on.

His first of five boundaries came after facing 63 balls and, up until he lost his wicket, 97 deliveries later, he looked relatively untroubled.

His departure brought Michael Vaughan to the crease, but the ex-England captain only faced two balls before bad light initially forced the players from the field – then came the rain and an end to proceedings.

It means the former England captain will join Rudolph, who is stranded on 73, at the crease when play resumes on today with the Tykes’ on 123 for one.

By that time he should know whether or not he has been recalled to the England squad for the series against the West Indies – it is announced at 10am with fellow Yorkshire player Adil Rashid also harbouring ambitions of making the 12 man party.

SCORECARD

Yorkshire v Worcestershire
At Headingley Carnegie.

Yorkshire First Innings Close
J A Rudolph not out 73
J J Sayers c S M Davies b Whelan 49
M P Vaughan not out 0
Extras (w1 pens 0) 1
Total 1 wkt (46.2 overs) 123
Fall: 1-123
To Bat: A McGrath, A W Gale, G L Brophy,
T T Bresnan, D J Wainwright, S
A Patterson, M J Hoggard, A Shahzad.
Bowling: Noffke 15-3-31-0. Mason 13.2-
3-32-0. Whelan 10-1-27-1. Arif 7-0-31-0.
Batty 1-0-2-0.