Jacques Rudolph has admitted that he had to battle to stay awake after amassing a career-best 228 not out for Yorkshire against Durham at Headingley today.

“I’m not going to lie to you, I almost fell asleep at slip,” said the South African after the third double century of his career helped the county to a mammoth first innings score of 610 for six declared on day two of this LV= County Championship clash.

It was just a good job the 28-year-old did not nod off in the field because he would have missed two wickets in two balls for leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the visitors closed on 54 for three from 18 overs in reply.

West Indian Tino Best struggled to make an impact on a slow and placid track but Rashid swung the game Yorkshire’s way in an instant with two googlies to get rid of Will Smith and night-watchman Mark Davies.

Even so, this was Rudolph’s day in the sun.

Helped by Anthony McGrath’s 105 off 249 balls in a third-wicket stand of 206, Rudolph, who hit 35 fours in his 389 balls, said: “I would probably rank that as my best innings. It was my career best.

“I take a lot of pleasure from a knock like that, and I am going to sleep really well. Once I got to a hundred I felt that I was going to go on and get big one.”

Rudolph, who has played cricket for 12 months solid now after spending the winter with South African franchise Nashua Titans, bettered his 222 not out on Test debut against Bangladesh in 2003.

He continued: “I had a scenario in South Africa in December where we played four games back to back. I honestly couldn’t care if I got out. I just wanted to take a break and sit at the back of the dressing room with a book.

“But the one thing that has really helped me over the last few weeks is that I’ve been emotionally a lot more stable at the crease. That is the key to sport in general, whether it be cricket, golf or tennis.”

Yorkshire missed out on batting bonus points four and five, but prevented Durham from claiming even one bowling point within the 110 overs.

And by the close, Andrew Gale’s decision to bat on into the evening session looked a good one because Durham were under the cosh.

Steve Patterson got rid of Kyle Coetzer, caught at first slip by Rudolph, in his first over, then Rashid struck in his opening over just before stumps.