Gavin Hamilton completed Yorkshire's first half century of the season as he and Darren Gough took part in an enterprising eighth wicket stand against Gloucestershire on the second day of the PPP championship match at Headingley today.

After a day of struggle yesterday on a difficult seaming pitch, Yorkshire resumed their first innings on 196 for seven off 86.1 overs with Hamilton on 46 and Gough one.

Martyn Ball completed the over of off-spin which was interrupted by rain last night before Jon Lewis took over at the Kirkstall Lane end while Dewsbury-born Mike Smith, the pick of Gloucestershire's seamers yesterday, began with a maiden to Hamilton.

Neither batsman took risks early on and it was the 21st delivery of the morning before Hamilton got the score moving by steering Smith for a single to third man.

When Hamilton was on 48 he turned Lewis on the legside and went through for two but while spectators were applauding his half-century umpire Barrie Leadbeater was signalling that the batsman had run one-short.

The first boundary of the day came when Gough cracked Smith through the covers, but Hamilton was made to sweat a long while on 49 before he scampered a single off his 86th ball, his innings including six fours.

Hamilton was the only batsman so far to have made run-scoring look easy but there were valuable contributions yesterday from debutant Richard Harden (43) and Matthew Wood (36) and in the circumstances Yorkshire's score was beginning to look quite promising.

Gloucestershire were forced to make a bowling change with Ian Harvey taking over from Smith, but Gough was beginning to open out and another fine cover drive brought him a four off Lewis.

Gough was becoming increasingly adventurous and his intended drive at Harvey resulted in a thick outside edge which sailed past slip for four. There was a much better looking boundary for Hamilton who drove Lewis with great style.

Consecutive cover drives by Gough at Mark Alleyne's expense both raced to the boundary and with 100 overs gone Yorkshire were 238 for seven and well on their way to a second batting bonus point, Gough and Hamilton then having put on 45 together. Alleyne appealed in vain for a catch behind the wicket but Hamilton's response was to get down on one-knee and hammer the next ball to the cover boundary. Soon after the 50 stand arrived from 64 minutes of entertaining batting.

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