Vince Strikes Scintillating Century To Lead From The Front On Day One

James Vince struck a scintillating century to lead from the front on day one of Hampshire's Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at the The Ageas Bowl.

The Hampshire captain hit his first hundred of the season and looked in excellent form as he guided Hampshire to 281-4 before bad light saw play conclude prematurely on the opening day.

After Yorkshire's Gary Ballance elected for an uncontested toss and took the option the bowl first, the visitors will have been hoping to make early in-roads and they began well - Michael Carberry (6) the man to fall early on as he was caught behind off the bowling of in-form seamer, Ben Coad (3-49), with just nine runs on the board.

However, Vince joined Jimmy Adams (39) at the crease and both looked comfortable following their side's early loss to share a 64-run stand and take Hampshire to 75-1 at lunch.

The second wicket of the day fell with the very first ball following the interval, Adams trapped in front by Coad, who claimed his second scalp of the day.

Adams' departure brought Tom Alsop (40) to the crease and he marked his arrival with two full-flowing straight-drives for four.

Both Alsop and Vince continued to accumulate nicely, the duo adding 82 for the fourth wicket and the pair will have been hoping to take Hampshire beyond the 200 together, before Alsop departed to a good delivery from Steven Patterson (1-42).

But Vince continued following the left-hander's dismissal, taking Hampshire to tea without further loss with 97 to his name at 177-3.

The 26-year-old soon reached a deserved three-figures shortly after the break, a typically stylish back-foot punch through the covers taking him to the landmark, much to the delight of a strong The Ageas Bowl crowd.

He was well supported by Sean Ervine (48) and both batsman batted positively to see the run-rate increase markedly in the evening session.

Boundaries flowed frequently and the pair brought up their 100-run stand with the total at 258-3.

The players left the field briefly for bad light with 16 overs remaining in the day, and following the resumption, Ervine departed as Coad caught his outside edge with the catch taken by England's Jonny Bairstow.

Liam Dawson (8*) joined Vince at the crease and passed 6,000 career first-class runs before the players left the field for the final time on day one, once again due to bad light.