Jordan stunner helps England build on Ballance ton

Gary Ballance - cropped

A sensational slips catch from Chris Jordan left West Indies facing an uphill task to save the first Test with England, who declared on the back of Gary Ballance's 122 in Antigua.

The hosts were set a target of 438 shortly before tea on day four, after Ballance offered a timely reminder of his qualities following his struggle for form at the recent Cricket World Cup.

Following the early loss of Kraigg Brathwaite, West Indies were given hope of pulling off a record run-chase thanks to a defiant partnership of 83 between Devon Smith (59 not out) and Darren Bravo (32).

However, Bravo was ousted by part-time off-spinner Joe Root in the final half-hour of play as Jordan dived to his right to take a sensational one-handed reflex catch at first slip.

West Indies closed on 98-2, needing to score a further 340 to win or bat out 90 overs on Friday to draw the opening Test of three.

Having battled to 44 not out the previous evening, Ballance kicked on to bring up his fourth five-day hundred in just his ninth appearance at Test level.

The left-hander demonstrated greater fluency from the start of Thursday's morning session and received useful support from Root (59), Ben Stokes (35) and Jos Buttler (59 not out) as England, 116-3 overnight, pressed on to reach 333-7.

A fourth-wicket stand worth 114 came to an end when the previously untroubled Root played on for the second time in the match, facing Jason Holder.

Stokes, who survived a review when he was yet to score, looked in good touch before he was stumped aiming a big heave at spinner Sulieman Benn early in the afternoon.

That wicket failed to slow England and Ballance moved to three figures in the company of the aggressive Buttler, who struck his partner in the arm at the non-striker's end with a powerful drive.

Ballance was eventually caught on the slog-sweep off Benn with the tourists 385 ahead, but Buttler - who struck two sixes and also saw reviews go in his favour from successive balls - was unbeaten when England called a halt to their innings upon the dismissal of Jordan (13).

West Indies were left with five overs to face prior to tea and failed to make it through to the break unscathed as Brathwaite (5) fended the 11th ball of the innings, an accurate bouncer from Stuart Broad, to Root at short-leg.

Smith and Bravo rebuilt impressively, but England were back on top when the latter fell victim to Jordan's stunning reflexes late in the day.

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