Yorkshire, requiring six points to be certain of avoiding the slim threat of relegation, had Hampshire on 227 for four in 75 overs at close of play after putting them in to bat on the first day of their LV Championship match.

After a delayed start, Jimmy Adams and former Yorkshire batsman Michael Lumb both hit half centuries on a slow Headingley pitch as Yorkshire ended the day with one of the points they required.

There were some angry scenes from frustrated spectators during the morning when umpires Nigel Cowley and Martin Bodenham ruled that the light was not good enough to get the game under way.

Disgruntled fans were quick to make their views known, with Cowley bearing the brunt of the verbal assault, and on one occasion when he walked to the middle to assess the situation he was accompanied by a ground steward.

It was decided to take lunch at 12.20 and play finally began after 1pm with no further interruptions for the remainder of the day.

Yorkshire were led on to the field by their popular South African Kolpak paceman, Deon Kruis, who was given a warm reception in his last match after five seasons with the club.

Openers Adams and Liam Dawson had one or two anxious moments against Matthew Hoggard and Ajmal Shahzad, but the latter, particularly, tended to be erratic, and the batsmen were able to settle in without too many alarms.

Dawson hooked Kruis for four when he entered the attack and Adams was fortunate to edge Shahzad between first and second slip when he switched ends to replace Hoggard.

The former England paceman was recalled at 59 for none and Dawson immediately helped himself to three boundaries in his first over with two cover drives and one straight back past the bowler.

Skipper Anthony McGrath brought himself on but his gentle medium pacers had little effect, and it was the introduction of left-arm spinner David Wainwright which resulted in the breakthrough.

His third delivery to Dawson was flicked to mid-wicket and he departed for 45 off 104 balls with six fours, leaving Hampshire on 95 for one.

Adams completed his half century from 104 deliveries with six fours but soon after the tea interval he was bowled off an inside edge while attempting to drive Kruis.

Left-hander Lumb made a comfortable start against his old county, cover driving Wainwright effortlessly for four, but he lost Chris Benham soon after Shahzad took over from the economical Kruis.

Benham got a thick edge and McGrath held on to an outstanding catch leaping to his right in the slips.

Batsmen still generally remained on top on a slow pitch, however, and Lumb unfurled some glorious shots on his way to his 50 off 80 balls with eight fours. Sean Ervine gave positive support in a 67 stand in 11 overs before he attempted to force McGrath away outside off-stump and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy.

Nic Pothas defended stoutly until the close when Lumb had reached 72 off 128 deliveries with 10 boundaries.