NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda, April 16 PA - Gary Ballance was delighted to bounce back from his torrid World Cup with a Test century against the West Indies.
The Yorkshire batsman made 122 as England took control of the first Test on Antigua, declaring at 7-333 before the hosts ended day four at 2-98 in pursuit of 438.
Ballance made only 36 runs in four innings in the showpiece tournament in Australia and New Zealand as England were eliminated in the group stage.
He told Sky Sports 2: "It was a tough winter for the team and personally as well so it's nice to come over here and score a hundred in my first Test back.
"It was only four bad knocks but it's in a World Cup so it's disappointing. That's how it goes but I've worked hard and I'm glad I could put it right here.
"It probably looked quite scratchy but I don't mind about that."
Joe Root made 59 in support of his county colleague, a total matched by Jos Buttler as he and Chris Jordan put on 52 in 6.4 overs before the declaration.
Stuart Broad removed Kraigg Brathwaite early in the Windies' reply but Devon Smith ended the day 59 not out and put on 83 with Darren Bravo, who fell to a stunning Jordan catch off Root's bowling.
Ballance summed it up as "a very good day, pretty much perfect".
He added: "It would have been nice to get one or two more wickets but we're happy with that, to get two this evening puts a lot of pressure on them.
"We knew 130 overs at them was what we wanted and we scored quickly with Jos and Chris coming in at the end.
"It's a new-ball wicket, you need to get wickets with the new ball and grind it out a bit in the middle overs.
"We've got another new ball just after lunch tomorrow I think, so hopefully we can sneak a few more in before then and then go again."
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