Gary Ballance ton turns Test in England's favour against Sri Lanka

London Gary Ballance came to Englands rescue with a maiden Test hundred after Sri Lanka threatened to seize control at Lords on SundayEnglands Gary Ballance celebrates after reaching his century during play on the fourth day of the first cricket Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lords cricket ground in London PicAFPEngland were 267 for eight in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day of the first Test a lead of 389 runsThe 24yearold Ballance entrusted with the key number three position in only his second Test was 104 not out after going to his century in the last over of the day with a six off spinner Rangana HerathIts a great feeling and I cant really describe my emotions right now Zimbabweborn lefthander Ballance told BBC Radios Test Match SpecialI didnt really think about getting a hundred tonight but I went for itHe added We have put ourselves in a good position to win the game Hopefully a few will keep a bit low and if we can nip one or two out we have a good chanceBallance had earlier added 78 for the seventh wicket with debutant Chris Jordan after a toporder collapseSri Lanka now needed to surpass the highest fourth innings total to win a Test at Lords 344 for one requiring 342 by the West Indies against England in 1984 if they were to go 10 up in this twomatch seriesAngelo Mathews the Sri Lanka captain who earlier in the day had made a hundred himself was left to reflect on what might have beenUntil Ballance and Jordan got together we had a chance of winningIm not saying were out of the game but we have to bat sensiblyThings looked very different as England slumped to 121 for six after Shaminda Eranga took three quick wickets and leftarmer Herath followed up with a double strike of his own on the way to figures of four for 95 in 23 oversIt was a collapse witnessed by Kevin Pietersen watching from a sponsors box at Lords with the South Africaborn batsman Englands alltime leading runscorer across all formats ditched after the 50 Ashes drubbing in AustraliaBoth attacks in this match had been frustrated by a docile Lords pitchEranga though defied the sluggish surface with a spell of three wickets for three runs in 21 ballsEngland captain Alastair Cook was caught behind for 28 while Australiaborn Sam Robson 19 one of three England debutants and Ian Bell nine were both bowled cheaply off the inside edgeJoe Root walked out at 69 for three having come in at 74 for three before making an made an unbeaten 200 in Englands first innings 575 for nine declaredBut this time Root was lbw for 15 to a clever Herath ball that skidded on and hit him on the back legCleanbowledMoeen Ali another debutant confidently drove Herath straight back over the bowlers head for fourBut next ball Herath spinning one out of the rough cleanbowled Ali after the lefthander went to driveWicketkeeper Matt Prior had made 86 in the first innings of his comeback Test but hed only managed 16 on Sunday when he guided Nuwan Kulasekara straight to gullySri Lanka reckoned Ballance was caught behind off Eranga for 36 as the Yorkshire batsman went to cutHowever Paul Reiffel ruled not out Sri Lanka challenged the former Australia seamers decision but with replay technology inconclusive Ballance survivedIn fact he thrived with two resounding boundaries a coverdrive and a pull in successive Eranga deliveries taking him into the 90sHe then then cheekily reverseswept Herath for four to go to 94 before off the first ball of Sundays last over reaching his century in style with a swept six off the spinnerBallances hundred came in 184 balls including 12 fours with his second fifty taking just 54 ballsSri Lanka resumed Sunday on 415 for seven having avoided the followon thanks mainly to Kumar Sangakkaras 147 on SaturdayMathews 79 not out overnight went to a welldeserved century when he coverdrove a James Anderson fulltoss for fourBut one ball after reaching three figures Mathews was lbw to Liam Plunkett for 102Sri Lanka were eventually all out for 453 to give England a firstinnings lead of 122