COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Basingstoke:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Hampshire 250, Yorkshire 273-7 (Yorks 5pts, Hants 4pts)
11-14 August 2009

Jacques Rudolph is just 16 runs short of 1,000 Championship runs for 2009

Jacques Rudolph top scored with 90 as Yorkshire edged into a first-innings lead over Hampshire at Basingstoke.

The Tykes opener shared a first-wicket stand of 132 with Joe Sayers (50) as their team ran up 273-7 in response to relegation rivals Hampshire's 250.

Gerard Brophy weighed in with 53 for the visitors on a day when runs again proved hard to come by.

David Griffiths was the most successful of the Hampshire bowlers, ending up with three good scalps in his 3-65.

Rudolph's painstaking 90, backed by Sayers, helped Yorkshire attain their slender advantage.

But it was Sayers' departure, snapped up at second slip by Liam Dawson off David Griffiths, that sent the Yorkshire innings into decline.

Returning skipper Anthony McGrath was caught off Griffiths without scoring two runs later, and then Andrew Gale was again held by Dawson at second slip.

Yorkshire took tea on 166-3, still 84 behind, with Rudolph in sight of his fourth century of the season. And he stayed calm as wickets started to fall at the other end, Jonathan Bairstow being trapped leg before, half forward to leg spinner Imran Tahir.

But Rudolph was only 16 runs away from reaching 1,000 championship runs for the season when he too pushed forward to Tahir and gave an easy catch to Sean Ervine at slip.

Yorkshire overtook the Hampshire total with five wickets down in the 92nd over but then lost two quick wickets towards the end of the day.

Tim Bresnan was needlessly run out attempting a quick single to James Vince in the covers.

And, after some belligerent blows, Brophy attempted to hook a sharply rising delivery from Griffiths and top edged to long leg where Michael Carberry held the catch.

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