Rudolph leads Yorkshire assault (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Rudolph leads Yorkshire assault

7:48pm Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

On a day when Yorkshire lost one of their greatest batsmen, another firm Headingley favourite sparkled at the crease as Jacques Rudolph wrote himself into the headlines with a majestic innings of 191 at Taunton.

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-and-a-half hour stay at the crease.

Arriving in the 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,” he added. “Luckily, I could make full use of it today and the game is tipping in our favour now.”

It was a faultless knock from the South African, who struck 29 fours and never looked like losing his wicket.

McGrath will take up the No 3 spot vacated by Vaughan and he performed well in the morning session to put on 80 with the South African, who was quick to praise his now retired team-mate.

“He’s 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.”

McGrath looked assured in Vaughan’s spot and gave Andy Caddick a hostile reception on the seamer’s return to County Championship action by driving him twice to the cover boundary in his first over.

McGrath went in the first over of the afternoon session when wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter dived sharply to his right to take a low edge from the skipper for 40 before Adam Lyth made a credible 36.

Rudolph was finally removed with 13 overs left in the day when playing on to the stumps off the bowling of David Stiff before Azeem Rafiq followed soon after and Jonathan Bairstow was removed with the last ball of the day for 38.