Yorkshire completed their first century opening partnership in the County Championship for almost two years, but in the end rain left them frustrated after day one of their opening home division one fixture against Worcestershire at Headingley.

Not since May 2007 have any of the Tykes’ numerous top two pairings reached three figures in the four-day format, strangely against this week’s opponents, but that was all changed by the excellent Jacques Rudolph and Joe Sayers.

They shared 123 before Sayers finally fell for 49, when he top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper Simon Davies off Chris Whelan, just before the earlier than expected close of play due to rain and bad light after only 46.2 overs.

After a barren run of form it was Sayers’ best score in almost two seasons, but like the rest of his team the overall feeling was one of frustration from the 25-year-old, who was looking for his first half-century for 22 months.

Said Sayers: “I’m disappointed not to have made a big score.

“I hold my hand up for the dismissal because I made a mistake but I’ve been pleased with the way I am hitting the ball in training.

“Now I need to go on and make a big score out in the middle.”

Added Sayers: “There is a need for us to have a strong partnership at the top of the order this summer and it was pleasing to get a good start with Jacques.”

It could have been even worse for Sayers though had he not been dropped on just three by Moeen Ali at short-leg, but after surviving that scare and only scoring in four of his first 50 deliveries he improved as the day went on.

His first of five boundaries came after facing 63 balls and up until he lost his wicket 97 deliveries later he looked relatively untroubled.

His departure brought Michael Vaughan to the crease, but the ex-England captain only faced two balls before bad light initially forced the players from the field – then came the rain and an end to proceedings.

It means the former England captain will join Rudolph, who is stranded on 73, at the crease when play resumes on Wednesday with the Tykes’ on 123-1.

By that time he should know whether or not he has been recalled to the England squad for the series against the West Indies.

It is announced at 10am with fellow Yorkshire player Adil Rashid also harbouring ambitions of making the 12-man party.