Yorkshire closed on 270-6 (84 overs) after Hampshire won the toss

The last time Hampshire were at Headingley transpired to be Shane Warne's final first-class appearance.

Warne's retirement less than a month ago left Hampshire with its most inexperienced spin attack for several years following the failure to extend Shaun Udal's contract.

Suddenly, 28-year-old Greg Lamb has been thrust the responsibility of being the county's number-one slow bowler.

It is a lot to ask from someone who has taken just five Championship wickets at 69.40 since joining Hampshire in 2004.

So Lamb's unrestrained delight at capturing the important wicket of Jacques Rudolph with the last ball before tea today was understandable.

Left-hander Rudolph had helped rescue Yorkshire from a perilous 54-3 with an innings of 59 (124 balls, nine fours) before groping at a Lamb off-break and sending a catch into the grateful hands of Michael Lumb at slip.

Lamb has taken big wickets for Hampshire before - last season he accounted for Mal Loye and Stuart Law at Old Trafford - but this is a new beginning for him so it is hoped the scalp of Rudolph will prove to be the first of many for the England-qualified Zimbabwean this season.

He bowled with impressive control at Headingley, a ground not known for being helpful to spinners, and was rewarded with the wicket that broke Rudolph and Andrew Gale's 109-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas, in his last appearance before flying to Jaipur to play in the Indian Premier League, had shown what his county will miss in his absence with two wickets during a typically miserly spell after Shane Bond had taken the prize wicket of Michael Vaughan.

Play did not start until 12.15pm because of rain but after Mascarenhas had won his first toss since replacing Warne as captain, Bond struck.

Vaughan was dropped by Michael Brown at short leg on three but pulled and cover drove Bond for three emphatic boundaries before he was caught by third-slip Lamb after driving at a wide delivery in the last over before lunch.

Then Mascarenhas took two wickets in four overs.

Joe Sayers (4) played on and Anthony McGrath, Yorkshire captain in the absence of Darren Gough (back), provided a catch for Brown at short-leg as the home side were reduced to 54-3.

After Lamb had broken Rudolph and Gale's 32-over stand, Bond proved too sharp for young Adil Rashid (15).

Soon after switching to the Rugby Stand End, Bond squared up the teenage all-rounder with a rapid delivery that was edged to Nic Pothas.

And after Bond had softened up Gerard Brophy with an inswinging yorker that felled the Yorkshire wicketkeeper by striking him flush on the toes, Chris Tremlett trapped him lbw in the third over with the second new ball.

Tremlett had dropped Gale on 96 off his own bowling after a spliced pull against the second delivery with the second new ball.

Gale, a determined left-hander, was on the cusp of his second first-class century at the close, unbeaten on 99 (187 balls, 14 fours).

Hampshire bowling:Bond 19-2-82-2, Tremlett 17-6-51-1, Mascarenhas 19-5-33-2, Tomlinson 14-0-52-0, Adams 2-0-13-0, Lamb 13-4-35-1