Tour match, Hove: Zimbabwe 317-4 (at close)v Sussex

Vermeulen is congratulated by Stuart Carlisle

Mark Vermeulen played himself into form ahead of the first Test against England with a magnificent unbeaten 194.

The opener hit a six and 32 fours as he batted through the day to finish just four runs short of a career best score.

Vermeulen reached three figures in less than three hours off 138 balls and then reined in his attacking instincts to ensure he was there at the close.

He shared century stands with Grant Flower (64) and Stuart Carlisle (37) as the inexperienced tourists showed they have no intention of being mere pushovers in the Test series.

Zimbabwe made a shaky start when Dion Ebrahim was caught behind by Andrew Hodd for 14, gloving an attempted hook shot off Billy Taylor.

But Vermeulen accelerated after an understandably cautious start following scores of 11 and nought in the previous game against Worcestershire.

He put on 114 for the second wicket with Stuart Carlisle, who was caught at slip off spinner Mark Davis during the afternoon session.

Although he edged short of the slips off Billy Taylor when on 17 and would have been run out by Jason Lewry's excellent piece of fielding at mid-off, on 43, from a direct hit, it was not until he reached 168 not out that he gave his first chance - a caught and bowled offer to Taylor.

Flower followed up his hundred at Worcester by batting for 196 minutes and hitting 19 fours before he was caught by former team-mate Murray Goodwin, who was leading Sussex in the absence of Chris Adams.

The wicket was taken by left-armer Paul Hutchison, who followed up by removing Tatenda Taibu first ball.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, M H Yardy, M W Goodwin (Capt), B Zuiderent, C D Hopkinson, K J Innes, P M Hutchison, M J G Davis, A J Hodd (Wkt), B V Taylor, J D Lewry.

Zimbabwe: D D Ebrahim, M A Vermeulen, S V Carlisle, G W Flower, D A Marillier, T Taibu (Wkt), S M Ervine, H H Streak (Capt), A M Blignaut, M L Nkala, R W Price.