It took just nine balls for Gary Ballance to get the two runs he required to secure his 26th first-class century and send a reminder to the England selectors.
It was a no nonsense century although questions will remain about whether his technique stands up to the scrutiny of international cricket – but against county bowlers, albeit ones of the quality of Chris Jordan and Steve Magoffin, Ballance remains a hugely effective batsman.
His innings of 165 was patient at first then very comfortable without being explosive; his century was scored in a mathematically pleasing way from exactly 200 balls before he started freeing his arms and added his next 65 at a run a ball.
Although discarded by England after the second Ashes Test, it is unlikely Ballance has been permanently cast aside and he remains very much in England’s thoughts for the winter tours to the UAE and South Africa.
Ballance said: “It has been a tough few weeks so it was really nice to score a big hundred. Hopefully over the next few weeks I can continue to push on and continue to get better. It was nice to get through a tricky period and kick on to get a big score. We are in a good position in the game.”
This was a batting day, the south coast sunshine had removed any life from the pitch and Yorkshire added a further 148 runs to their overnight score of 346 at almost four an over, including the 197 run partnership between Ballance and Tim Bresnan who is averaging over 60 with the bat this season. The visitors would have been looking to bat through to mid-afternoon at least taking their score well past 500 but they lost Ballance, Bresnan and Pattersen in quick succession before the last wicket partnership of Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom added a quickfire 35 before a bit of dozy running by Plunkett saw them all out for 494 on the stroke of lunch.
Sussex’s reply begun very well with a century opening partnership between Ed Joyce and Luke Wells making the most of a pitch that had become increasingly benign. Even the battery of seam bowlers that Yorkshire boast- an attack with a combined total of over 1800 first-class wickets - couldn’t get a great deal out of it. It was the leg-spin of Adil Rashid thatbroke the partnership first demolishing Wells’ off-stump then two balls later getting Matt Machan caught at short leg with a ball that bounced and turned. Having bowled poorly in the afternoon session, Rashid found a much more effective fuller length finding good turn throughout the evening session. If selected for England’s one day squad, which he is likely to be, Rashid may not feature much more for Yorkshire this season so England will be keeping an eye on how he performs here; he finished the day with three wickets in the bag.
Sussex finished the day on the back foot losing two further wickets which included that Ed Joyce who’d just scored his first century of the season with a six down the ground- it’ s been a quiet season by his standards; he’s averaging just 32 this year.
If the weather forecast is to be believed, this match between teams at opposite ends of the table may well end in a draw. For Yorkshire, with a 38-point lead at the top of the table a draw is fine; for Sussex, who are flailing in the relegation zone, having only won three matches this season five points will not get them out of trouble and unfortunately for them the fixtures have not fallen kindly for them - they have to play champions elect Yorkshire twice in their final four fixtures of the season.
