JONNY Bairstow’s 12th first-class century put Yorkshire in a strong position in their County Championship encounter with Hampshire at Headingley.

The England wicketkeeper struck 11 fours and three sixes on his way to making 102 from just 106 deliveries while fifties from Adam Lyth and Jack Leaning helped guide the Tykes to 333-7 at the close.

Bairstow got off the mark with a powerful cover-drive to the boundary and maintained his momentum from there, bringing up his half-century from just 46 balls after hooking Fidel Edwards for two sixes before going onto three figures.

Having toured the West Indies with England during the opening month of the season, this was Bairstow’s first competitive innings since Yorkshire faced the MCC in Abu Dhabi in late March and he was pleased with how he had adapted his game back in English conditions.

“I was just concentrating on the job in hand. It’s different conditions coming back from the West Indies so it was pretty challenging when they hit the right lengths. When they didn’t, hopefully I was able to put the ball away,” he said.

“I haven’t scored a hundred for a while. I only got one last year which annoyed me quite a lot and I didn’t go on to get the runs I should have done.

“It wasn’t a conscience decision (to up the tempo) – it was just something that happened. Fortunately today it happened for the good of the team.”

Bairstow’s knock helped Yorkshire recover from 114-4 as he added 155 for the fifth wicket with Leaning after Lyth had battled his way to 53 earlier in the day.

The left-handed opener shared in stands of 48 with Che Pujara and 52 with Andrew Gale following Alex Lees’ dismissal in the third over.

Bairstow eventually became Andre Adams’ third victim as he edged behind, and though Yorkshire lost Adil Rashid and Will Rhodes after tea, Bresnan and Leaning (77no) were able to see the hosts through to the close.

Rhodes retained his place in the side after Liam Plunkett was left out for disciplinary reasons after the former Durham paceman missed Saturday’s photocall and final training session.