County Championship: Rudolph praises duo's 'masterclass'

Jacques Rudolph has also played for Yorkshire

Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph paid tribute to a batting "masterclass" from his predecessor Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince.

The South African duo put on 321 for Lancashire's third wicket at Colwyn Bay.

Petersen (205 not out) and Prince (154 not out) made sure that Lancashire had maximum batting points on day one.

"On a pretty lifeless pitch the way Alviro Petersen and Ashwell played was a proper masterclass," said Rudolph.

"Though as far as commitment and determination go, I thought our bowlers tried their best, but the margin for error on this wicket is so small so we got a little bit exposed."

The partnership is already a ground record for the third wicket by any county, beating the previous best of 281 by Glamorgan's Steve James and Mike Powell.

James's 309 not out and Glamorgan's 718 for 3, against Sussex at Colwyn Bay in 2000, also stand as the Welsh side's all-time individual and team records, underlining the high-scoring nature of the venue.

But Rudolph admitted the pitch at the Rhos-on-Sea ground was not what he would have hoped for.

"When you see in the first few overs the ball is not getting through to the keeper, it's disheartening for our bowlers because you rely on that pace and carry," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"But those are the cards we're dealt, we've got to find a way to try to stay in the game."

Petersen was left only five short of his career-best, 210 for Glamorgan against Surrey in 2011, but took no extra pleasure in putting one over some of his former team-mates.

"I don't really look at it that way, it's nice to score runs against anyone," said Petersen.

"I know most of the [Glamorgan] guys and I know they had a hard day in the field so a double-hundred is a double-hundred and I'm just glad I had a chance to contribute.

"I can't just rock up and think it [a career-best] is going to happen. I have to start again and make sure I respect the game."

Rudolph knows Glamorgan need a major fight-back to ensure the Division Two leaders do not run away with the game.

"We can't just fall over, we have shown when we've had our backs against the wall we've found ways to fight back and this presents us with another opportunity to do so," he said.