Rudolph the centurion says there’s more in his locker

8:27am Friday 2nd May 2008

Jacques Rudolph hit a century to help Yorkshire to a competitive total in their first innings against Nottinghamshire at Headingley, writes Steve Crossman.

However, Michael Vaughan's resurgence was finally ended by England team-mate Stuart Broad, eight runs shy of a morale-boosting 50.

Rudolph spent over five hours at the crease, eventually bringing up the ton by driving Mark Ealham through the covers and sprinting through for three.

"It's always pleasing to get a hundred," said Rudolph. "I probably needed a barn door to get Sidebottom away with the second new ball. On a pitch like this though, when the ball is swinging all over the place, you have to go back to your basics and I had to fight through it in the end."

Rudolph has now made at least 50 in three of Yorkshire's last four games at Headingley and has twice gone on to make a hundred, but the South African thinks he still has more in the tank.

"To be honest I haven't been totally comfortable yet," he said. "I think I've probably got another 20 or 30 per cent to my game."

Yorkshire were bowled out for 299, just one run short of an extra bonus point but only a major rescue operation in the shape of a century partnership between Rudolph and Gerard Brophy saved them from a far worse fate, with the Yorkshire wicket-keeper also contributing serious runs with a knock of 63.

Earlier Vaughan was on a mission at the crease.

He banished Broad for a superb six over deep square but soon, after attempting the same shot, he was caught five yards in from the boundary by Samit Patel.

Other than Anthony McGrath's plucky 36 there was little further resistance.

South African Morne Morkel lasted just three balls on debut, while Matthew Hoggard was last man out with a mis-timed air shot leaving him plum in front.

The visitors had just three overs to negotiate until the close but Hoggard still got in on the act with a decisive intervention.

With the light fading, he crucially had Will Jefferson dismissed leg before for a duck to leave Notts all tied up at 0-1 at close of play.

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