George Hill hailed the application shown by Yorkshire’s batters as they seized the initiative on day one against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Opener Hill led the with 131 as the county made 324-5, including Harry Brook’s 76 and a series of cameos; Matthew Waite ended the day 38 not out, Harry Duke made 27, Will Fraine 20 and Hill’s opening partner Adam Lyth 19.
Twenty-one-year-old Hill reported back on a “true pitch”, though not a featherbed to bat on.
“It was a good day,” he said. “They bowled really well. The pitch nibbled all day, and I didn’t feel like I was in at any point. So I was grateful I scored a hundred. There was a bit of relief there.
“The work Adam Lyth did in that first hour against a good attack shouldn’t go unrecognised.
“The application all the lads showed was really good, and they (Hampshire) were getting frustrated.
“There were a lot of plays and misses through the day. But we put a real onus on our wickets, which was what we spoke about this morning.”
Hill play well on both sides of the wicket, but drove handsomely down the ground, particularly early in his innings. Though it was not without misfortune, as Will Fraine can testify.
He was run out backing up after a Hill drive was deflected back onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end by Keith Barker.
“I’ve already apologised to Will (Fraine) and will do a couple more times. I was gutted because he looked in really good nick,” he said before talking up his third-wicket partner Brook, with whom he shared 141.
“Brooky’s a bit of a freak at the minute,” he said. “He makes it look so easy. I’m out there scratching around and he’s pinging it everywhere!
“Hopefully when he gets his England opportunity he will take it.”
Hill and Brook both took on the left-arm spin of Liam Dawson during the afternoon. They hit a six apiece over long-on and took 17 off one of his overs, while both of Hill’s sixes came off the same bowler.
“Talking for myself, I always try and put the spinner under pressure, no matter what the circumstances are,” he said.
“On day one, spinners play a containing role. If I hit them out of the attack, then the seamers have to come back and get more tired.
“That was my thought process, and Brooky always plays spin really well.”
And on the state of the game, the ex-England Under 19s star added: “I reckon if we can get 400 or above, that will be a good score. It’s a true wicket, but if you put it in the right areas it can be tough.
“There was no turn, but I think with them having Barker and us having Dom Drakes, two left-armers, spin will come into it later on. There’s already some quite big foot holes from where Barker was landing.”
