Ballance: It’s going to be tough work
Gary Ballance, England's centurion in the second innings of the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua, says it will be tough to get the remaining eight wickets in the Windies second innings to force a win as the pitch is still good to bat on.
Batting at number three, Ballance stroked a patient 122 as England declared at 333 for seven to leave the home side with a target of 438 to win. The visitors took two wickets before the close to leave the Windies at 98 for two, still 340 to get on the final day.
Ballance told ecb.co.uk after the day's play: "It's been a good day I think, it would have been nice to have had them three or four down but the wicket is a good wicket and it's going to be tough."
"We knew it was going to be like that so we've got two wickets and eight more tomorrow would be perfect. It's going to be tough work but we've got a new ball coming after lunch so we'll make the most of that.
The 25 year-old Zimbabwe-born player was also satisfied that he was back in the runs after enduring a tough last few months with many people questioning if he should be in the ODI team after a terrible run of form.
Ballance continued: "Yeah it was very satisfying, like I've said before the winter wasn't ideal. But to come over here and get a hundred in my second innings of the tour is a massive boost.
"I'm very happy at the moment and also coming in during a tough session in the afternoon to get those runs and put us in a strong position going forward."
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