1st Test Day 4 WI 295 & 98/2 v ENG 399 & 333/7d

Gary Ballance's century and a stunning Chris Jordan catch set up England's victory push in the first Test against West Indies in Antigua.

Ballance hit 122, Joe Root 59 and Jos Buttler a rapid unbeaten 59 to help the tourists declare on 333-7.

Chasing a notional 438 to win, West Indies lost Darren Bravo for 32 late in the day as they closed on 98-2.

The obdurate Devon Smith, who added 83 with Bravo for the second wicket, will resume on 59 on the final day.

James Anderson failed to take a wicket in seven overs and remains one short of equalling Ian Botham's England record of 383 in Tests.


Ballance claimed England "couldn't be happier" with their position as they chase a first win in 10 Tests away from home.

But Smith demonstrated enough application in conditions that continue to favour the batsmen suggest England can expect a challenging fifth day.

There was minimal lateral movement for the England seamers in the 40 overs possible before the close.

The first wicket owed much to extra bounce extracted by Stuart Broad as Kraigg Brathwaite fended to short leg in teh second over, while England were thankful for Jordan's reactions and athleticism to end Bravo's resistance six overs before the close.

Driving at the part-time off-spin of Joe Root, Bravo edged to slip, where Jordan dived to his right to cling on almost after the ball had passed him.

Ballance's hundred - his fourth in nine Tests and his first overseas - was central to England adding 217 in 48 overs after they resumed on 116-3.

How's stat?!
"Gary Ballance has scored four hundreds in his first nine Tests. Herbert Sutcliffe managed five, a record for England. Only two other players scored four: Andrew Strauss and Peter Parfitt."

Compact and organised, he drove purposefully through the off side and rotated the strike well with Root as they extended their fourth-wicket partnership, worth 64 overnight, to 114.

Root, whose 83 was central to England's recovery in the first innings, had made 59 when he played on for the second time in the match as he defended Jason Holder off the back foot.

Ben Stokes's brisk 35 added impetus for England, although he perished in the first over after lunch giving the otherwise ineffective Sulieman Benn the charge.

Ballance, who went to three figures with a meaty drive down the ground, lifted Benn for six over long-on to take England's lead beyond 400, before swinging the same bowler to Jermaine Blackwood at deep mid-wicket.

The free-scoring Buttler continued to prosper as West Indies' motivation faded, adding 52 in 28 balls with Jordan before the latter's departure prompted the declaration.