ENGLAND discard James Vince scored his first century in a year as Yorkshire’s bowlers struggled on day one against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Yorkshire struck four times in good batting conditions after Gary Ballance opted to bowl.

Vince’s 143 not out from 233 balls underpinned the home side's 281-4 from 85.3 overs, also including Sean Ervine’s 48. Bad light ended play early.

The White Rose, for whom Ben Coad took 3-49 from 18.3 overs, now have plenty to do if they are to secure successive Specsavers County Championship wins.

This was captain Vince’s first century since the opening match of last season when these two sides played out a high-scoring draw at Headingley.

It would be no surprise to see this match go the same way given the lifeless nature of the pitch.

In fairness to Ballance, there is a green tinge to the surface, while overcast conditions dominated the day.

But there seemed to be very little assistance on offer for bowlers.

Ballance was not alone in opting for an uncontested toss as all nine visiting captains across both divisions did the same.

Coad added his 19th Championship wicket of the season in the sixth over when he had Michael Carberry caught behind as the left-hander chased a wide one to leave the score at 9-1.

Hampshire recovered from the early setback to reach lunch at 75-1 from 30 overs, with Vince and opener Jimmy Adams watchful.

Adams (29) then fell with the first ball of the afternoon when Coad had him lbw playing forward. But Vince led another recovery.

It would have been different had Adam Lyth held a sharp chance at second slip when Vince, on 39, flashed at David Willey in the next over.

Vince and Tom Alsop shared 82 inside 27 overs for the third wicket through the majority of the afternoon as they made batting looking relatively simple.

But Steve Patterson ended their partnership when he had left-handed Alsop lbw trying to play to leg for 40 as the score fell to 157-3 in the 57th.

Vince went to tea on 97 before posting his century off 180 balls in the first over of the evening.

He cut Joe Root for four after missing an expansive drive at the session’s first ball.

Vince also posted his maiden career first-class century against Yorkshire, 180 at Scarborough in 2010.

Since his 119 at Headingley last year, the 26-year-old stand-in Hampshire skipper has played seven Test Matches for England without passing 42.

He missed out on selection for winter tours to Bangladesh and India, and he will need a lot more innings like this to return to that arena.

Still, performing against England’s new Test captain is no bad thing.

This was the first time this season Yorkshire looked as if they really missed injured seamers Jack Brooks, Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom.

The visitors were tidy enough before tea, although Vince and Ervine accelerated afterwards and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 110 inside 26 overs.

Yorkshire could have done with something different in their attack such as Brooks’ wicket-taking ability or Plunkett’s extra pace.

Coad did, however, remove Ervine with the new ball after the first of two bad light interruptions, with Jonny Bairstow taking his second catch behind the stumps as Hampshire fell to 267-4 in the 82nd.