Somerset v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day One
ON a day when Yorkshire said goodbye to one of their greatest batsmen, another firm Headingley favourite sparkled at the crease.
As Michael Vaughan quit the game, Jacques Rudolph made a majestic 191 to take the Tykes to within touching distance of maximum batting points at Taunton.
Yorkshire concluded on 375 for seven and will be delighted, not only at the prospect of reaching 400 in their first innings, but to finally see signs of recovery in their bid to end their habit of throwing away multiple wickets in quick succession.
Both Somerset and Yorkshire were desperate to win the toss on a hot, sticky day to bat on a hard, dry pitch and once Anthony McGrath had taken care of that, Rudolph tormented Somerset’s field in a six-anda- half hour stay at the crease.
“Arriving here this morning I thought it was actually a bit green,” said Rudolph. “But it’s just been proven again that when it’s hot here you can always take the risk of batting.
“It’s a brilliant wicket.
Luckily I could make full use of it and the game is tipping in our favour.”
It was a faultless knock from the South African who never looked like losing his wicket and hit 29 fours.
McGrath will take up the number three spot vacated by Vaughan and he performed well to put on 80 with the South African who was quick to praise his now retired teammate.
“Vaughan is a tactical genius,” said Rudolph. “He’s very clued up on how to deal with people and deal with emotions and his record speaks for itself.
“He’s been an inspiration in our dressing room and we’re very sad he’s gone. It was a very emotional moment when he told us, what a great man.”
If anyone can fill Vaughan’s shoes, McGrath can and he gave Andy Caddick a hostile reception, driving him twice to the cover boundary in the first over of his comeback from a back operation.
The pair looked set when they reached lunch at 104 for one but McGrath fell to the fifth ball of the afternoon session, when wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter dived sharply to his right to take a low edge for 40.
Adam Lyth is most likely to benefit from the departure of Vaughan.
Chances have been limited this season and the talented 22-year-old eased his way to 36 before skying an attempted pull to the hands of James Hildreth at cover.
Rudolph was finally removed with 13 overs left in the day when playing on off the bowling of David Stiff before Azeem Rafiq followed soon after for four.
Jonathan Bairstow was caught behind for 38 with the final ball of the day to leave Ajmal Shahzad fresh at the crease on five overnight.
Australian David Hussey marked his return for Notts with a superb hundred against Lancashire on an absorbing day at Trent Bridge. The 31-year-old hit 21 fours and two sixes in an innings of 126 off 145 balls as the hosts made 369 for 9.
SCORECARD
Somerset v Yorkshire
At Taunton. Yorkshire Won Toss
Yorkshire First Innings Close
J A Rudolph b Stiff 191
J J Sayers b Thomas 8
A McGrath c Kieswetter b Trego 40
A Lyth c Hildreth b de Bruyn 36
A W Gale c Trescothick b Willoughby 17
J M Bairstow c Kieswetter b Thomas 39
Rafiq c Kieswetter b Thomas 4
A Shahzad not out 5
Extras (b13 lb11 w7 nb4 pens 0) 35
Total 7 wkts (95.1 overs) 375
Fall: 1-24 2-104 3-222 4-267 5-338 6-370 7-
375
To Bat: M J Hoggard, S A Patterson.
Bowling: Willoughby 20-2-66-1. Thomas
20.1-3-50-3. Caddick 16-1-77-0. Stiff 14-1-
75-1. Trego 12-4-28-1. Suppiah 8-4-28-0. de
Bruyn 5-1-27-1.
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