ASHAR Zaidi and Mike Yardy made unbeaten half-centuries as Sussex fought back impressively in their crucial LV= County Championship game against Somerset at blustery Hove.

A win for either side, who started the game level on 176 points, should preserve Division One status and Sussex will probably feel more satisfied after day one having reached 303 for six at stumps.

The seventh wicket pair have so far added 131 in 29 overs at nearly five runs an over, Zaidi leading an impressive counter-attack with 90 off just 93 balls including 15 fours and a six off Jim Allenby.

Yardy, playing his last game on home soil before retirement, gave him excellent support with an unbeaten 60 from 123 deliveries - with eight fours.

Until they came together it had been Somerset's day.

They reduced Sussex to 171 for six shortly after tea when Ben Brown fell for a duck as he tried to turn a full toss from Jack Leach to leg and saw the ball balloon into the hands of Craig Overton at cover.

Having had just one day's rest after being in the field for two days against Hampshire last week, the Somerset bowlers would have been keen for the opportunity to rest but, after Sussex won the toss, they bowled with commendable discipline.

The occasional ball bounced disconcertingly but otherwise the pitch played well, although a fierce crosswind was often a handicap for Somerset's seamers while early rain and two short showers took 17 overs off the day's allocation.

The big wicket fell just before tea when Sussex skipper Ed Joyce, who had progressed with the minimum of fuss to 83, wafted at a ball down the leg side from Jamie Overton after more than three hours of patient accumulation, which included 14 fours.

Sussex needed their captain to be at his best as a succession of wickets fell at the other end, some to ill-judged strokes. Luke Wells (13) chased width and Matt Machan (21) drove loosely to cover while after lunch Chris Nash (11) edged to second slip, gloving a ball from Peter Trego.

Luke Wright threatened to play a dominant innings but on 20 his prod forward gave Allenby a wicket and Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick his third catch of the day at second slip.

Joyce's rare indiscretion gave Jamie Overton his second success and Somerset were in control when Brown departed, before Zaidi and Yardy cashed in against an attack that finally began to tire.

Yardy took 77 balls to reach his 50 and Zaidi followed him in the next over off just 56 deliveries.

And as the ball got old boundaries came regularly.

Zaidi had some moments of luck, most notably when he flashed hard through the slips and Trego was unable to get his hands on the ball.

Credit: PA