Surrey v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day One

South African Jacques Rudolph marked his Yorkshire debut with a sparkling century as he and Bradford-born Adil Rashid stunned Surrey by featuring in a record stand on the opening day of the LV County Championship season at the Brit Oval yesterday.

Left-hander Rudolph weighed in with a sweetly-timed 122 to notch the first Championship century on a Yorkshire debut since Ashley Metcalfe hit 122 against Nottinghamshire at Bradford Park Avenue in 1983.

Watching every one of Rudolph's magical shots was new director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon, who two years before Metcalfe had also compiled a Championship century on debut off Essex's attack at Headingley.

The 25-year-old Kolpak showed off his huge talent with elegant strokeplay but he never entirely outshone 19-year-old Rashid, who survived a chance before he had scored to go on and make a career-best 86 which was also thrilling to watch.

The gallant pair rescued Yorkshire from the depths of 127 for five with their county's record sixth-wicket stand against Surrey of 190, easily beating the 134 set by Irving Washington and George Hirst at Headingley 105 years' ago.

Rudolph's innings was faultless and he combined perfectly executed ground shots with crisply struck aerial blows.

Rashid also went over the top in some style. He thumped left-arm spinner Nayan Doshi into the crowd and then swept him to the boundary to reach his 50 off only 71 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.

Leg-spinner Chris Schofield received harsh treatment too, and Rudolph completed the 20th century of his career and his first in England off just 136 deliveries with 16 fours and three sixes.

It was in some desperation that Surrey took the new ball after 80 overs with the score on 316 for five but the move paid off because both batsmen departed within the space of three balls.

Rashid, within sight of a maiden century, chopped Azhar Mahmood into his stumps after facing 143 balls and hammering 14 fours and two sixes, and in the following over from Steve Magoffin Rudolph drove into the covers for Mark Ramprakash to hold on to the catch.

Although relieved to get rid of both batsmen, Surrey were still left to rue the fact that Azhar had Rashid dropped at second slip before he had got off the mark. Had he been dismissed at that stage Yorkshire would have been reeling on 132 for six.

Darren Gough had marked his return to Yorkshire as captain by winning the toss and although his side hit big trouble shortly before lunch as three wickets fell in 11 balls to leave them struggling on 73 for four.

After Rudolph and Rashid had completed their rescue act, Gough made 23 as Yorkshire went on to finish a highly satisfactory day on 390 for eight, just ten runs away from maximum batting bonus points.

SCORECARD

Surrey v Yorkshire at The Brit Oval. Yorkshire Won Toss

Yorkshire First Innings Close
C White c Ramprakash b Ormond 7
J J Sayers c Batty b Clarke 26
A McGrath c Batty b Azhar Mahmood 20
Younis Khan b Clarke 4
J A Rudolph c Ramprakash b Magoffin 122
G L Brophy lbw b Magoffin 22
A Rashid b Azhar Mahmood 86
T T Bresnan not out 33
D Gough c Newman b Azhar Mahmood 23
J N Gillespie not out 16
Extras (b8 lb6 w1 nb16 pens 0) 31
Total 8 wkts (104 overs) 390
Fall: 1-35 2-69 3-73 4-73 5-127 6-317 7-319 8-
348. To Bat: M J Hoggard.
Bowling: Ormond 18-6-78-1. Magoffin 21-8-58-
2. Azhar Mahmood 19-4-48-3. Clarke 16-3-71-
2. Doshi 20-9-61-0. Schofield 8-1-47-0. Benning
2-0-13-0.