Sussex's Yardy roars for the Lions

The Lions captain hit an unbeaten 151 as the Lions closed the first day on 273-4 at the Moti Bagh Stadium.

The tourists need only avoid defeat to qualify for next week's final in Mumbai and are well placed to post a healthy first-innings score on a surface which contrasted sharply to the one on which they secured their opening victory against Central Zone.

While the seamers were encouraged by a green-tinged strip last week, this pitch was more typical of the subcontinent - slower, lower and more batsman-friendly.

Left-hander Yardy, in as early as the second over of the morning after winning the toss, took advantage and struck 20 boundaries in his six-hour stay at the crease.

He shared half-century stands with Joe Denly and Ed Joyce, who both scored 32, before dominating a 141-run partnership with Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott (44).

Trott was trapped leg before by left-armer Ashraf Makda shortly before the close - and soon after the West Zone took the second new ball.

Makda claimed three of the four wickets to fall in fact, all lbw, starting with Michael Carberry, whose century proved the backbone of the chase against Central.

His opening partner Denly was also dismissed in the first hour but in cruel fashion as a straight drive from Yardy was deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end by seamer Siddharth Trivedi.

Yardy offered one chance of note, to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel from the bowling of off-spinner Yusuf Pathan.

But his disciplined stay in the middle means that his side made an impressive start to their quest to qualify from Group B.

Although Yardy has insisted the England second string will play to win, taking time out of the game is invaluable given their position of strength in the standings.

Even if West Zone secure a winning draw by virtue of leading on first innings, and thus creating a tie at the top with six points, Yardy's men would progress by virtue of having won a game.