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

Rain halted any chance of play at Hove

Play was abandoned at Hove at 1600 GMT on Friday without a ball being bowled all day.

The touring Zimbabwe side had earlier put themselves in a commanding position after a superb century by Mark Vermeulen.

But, despite the occasional respite from the rain, play was never able to resume on day two of the tour match.

Vermeulen had played himself into form in timely fashion on Thursday with an unbeaten 194 a week before the first Test against England at Lord's.

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.

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.