Jacques Rudolph, fresh from his 99, hailed Yorkshire’s opening-day display against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl today as “outstanding”.

The South African fell one short of three figures, caught at mid-wicket off the bowling of his big mate Imran Tahir.

But he played a major role as the White Rose enjoyed one of their best days in this season’s LV= County Championship.

Rudolph was helped out by further half-centuries for captain Andrew Gale, Anthony McGrath and Gary Ballance as the visitors closed on 318-3 from 105 overs.

And all this came just 48 hours after their 40-over defeat against the Netherlands, which was the low point of the summer.

Rudolph said: “I just think we’re lacking a little bit of confidence.

“I’ve not been here with the guys for four months but it was one of my first impressions that we just looked a little tentative. The way we played here was absolutely outstanding. I felt as if we played really good four-day cricket all day.”

Yorkshire look well set to post 500 plus during tomorrow's second day on a flat pitch.

It may be good for batting but the fact that confidence-shorn Hampshire employed four spinners on day one will give the visitors plenty of heart, with Adil Rashid and David Wainwright in their ranks.

After the early loss of Joe Sayers to Chris Wood, whose first seven overs were maidens, Rudolph and Gale shared 129 inside 32 overs for the second wicket after Gale won the toss.

“They bowled really well early on, Wood in particular,” continued Rudolph. “It was easier when we got through that stage.”

Gale, who finished with 54 off 96 balls, and Rudolph, who faced 211 balls and had earlier reached his half-century with a slog-swept six off left-arm spinner Danny Briggs, both clipped Tahir to mid-wicket during the afternoon session.

“I would have loved to get treble figures,” said Rudolph, who has now posted four scores in the nineties in his last eight innings in all competitions.

“These things happen though. Next time I think I’ll just clear his head.”

McGrath (65) and Ballance (50) advanced the score from 204-3, clinching a third batting point with an unbeaten hundred partnership of their own.

McGrath, dropped on 20 at short-leg off Tahir’s bowling, reached his first fifty of the season off 156 balls after tea before Ballance posted his sixth of the campaign off 91.

* Yorkshire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow hit a 78-ball half century as England Lions were bowled out for 299 on the first day of four against Sri Lanka A at Scarborough. Yorkshire youngster Joe Root fell for just ten.