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Yorkshire v Notts, County Championship, Headingley, 2nd day
Battling Rudolph gives Yorkshire the edge
John Ward at Headingley
May 1, 2008
Nottinghamshire 0 for 1 trail Yorkshire 299 (Rudolph 104*, Brophy 63, Swann 4-25) by 299 runs
Scorecard
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Stuart Broad removes Adil Rashid having earlier won his duel with Michael Vaughan but Yorkshire fought back at Headingley
© PA Photos
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Jacques Rudolph showed he thoroughly deserves his status as an honorary Yorkshireman with a disciplined, fighting century against Nottinghamshire at Headingley.
Yorkshire's innings would have been in a sorry state without his skill and application. Their top order fought well against high-quality Nottinghamshire bowling on the first day; with the conditions less accommodating to bowlers on the second morning they relaxed fatally and needed their South African contingent of Rudolph and Gerard Brophy to earn them a respectable total of 299.
Yorkshire resumed on 51 for 1, and it was immediately apparent that the seam bowling of Ryan Sidebottom and Charlie Shreck, although worthy, looked less lethal - though the ball did swing all day, as Rudolph later testified, if not to the same extent. Anthony McGrath made most of the early running, overtaking Michael Vaughan, who had taken 40 minutes to move from 25 to 30, when he chose the wrong bouncer from Shreck to pull and top-edged a catch to Chris Read.
Vaughan slowly emerged from his cocoon, pulling a short delivery from Stuart Broad for a superb six which necessitated a replacement ball. But the trap was set for him and he fell into it, pulling another delivery low to the fielder placed at deep square-leg to end his hard-working 42.
With Broad quickly removing Andrew Gale and Adil Rashid, Yorkshire suddenly found that their carelessness had reduced them to 111 for 5. The improved batting conditions led to a fatal lowering of the guard by the top order and they were paying the penalty.
Brophy joined Rudolph and, after a couple of risky flashes through the slips by the latter, they settled down in a partnership that eventually added 106. Rudolph, despite some heart-stopping moments against Sidebottom with the second new ball, was generally slow but safe, while Brophy overtook him soon after lunch and played with greater freedom.
Brophy was first to his fifty from 99 balls with a handsome cut off Broad. It was just a pity for Yorkshire that Brophy spoilt his effort on the stroke of tea by advancing down the pitch to Graeme Swann, taking a swing and being bowled for 63. Rudolph paid tribute to his partner's innings at the close, saying it took the pressure off him and allowed him to build his innings. The pitch, he said, was quite slow and stroke-making wasn't easy.
Rudolph showed more freedom after tea, with three handsome boundaries, but lost Tim Bresnan for 18. Bresnan hesitated over a quick second run and a direct hit at the non-striker's end found him short. Swann's flat off-breaks troubled the tail, and an irresponsible heave by Darren Gough left Yorkshire nine down with Rudolph on 92.
Matthew Hoggard, though, stood firm while Rudolph didn't panic and trusted his partner. A three through the covers took him to his well-merited century, off 246 balls. Hoggard however failed in his next mission, to see Yorkshire through to 300 and another batting point, playing no stroke at Swann and being given lbw, leaving Rudolph unbeaten with 104.
Swann was economical and finished with 4 for 25 and there were three scalps for Broad. Sidebottom bowled 24 superb overs without success, a complete travesty
for the man Rudolph had no hesitation in naming the outstanding member of the attack.
Yorkshire's total may well prove par for the course, depending on how well their bowlers perform on the third day, which will be crucial if an outright result is to be obtained. They made a good start in the three overs possible before the close. Morne Morkel, making his Yorkshire debut, showed impressive pace in his single over, but it was Hoggard who made the break through by trapping Will Jefferson lbw.
© Cricinfo
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