Gary Ballance smashed his way to 4th Test ton (photo: the guardian)

A fine century from top-order batsman, Gary Ballance, helped England set up a 438-run target for West Indies after the visitors dominated the Day 4 proceedings of the first Test match in Antigua on Thursday.

Resuming from overnight score of 116-3, Ballance joined forces with Joe Root, as the duo went on to stitch a formidable 114-run partnership that did most of the damage for the hosts.

In spite of Root’s (59) dismissal, Ballance continued to assemble partnerships with Ben Stokes (35) and Jos Buttler (59*), before declaring their innings at 333-7, with an aggregate lead of 437 runs.

In the second innings, West Indies lost opener Kraigg Brathwaite (5) as early as in the second over. Later, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo looked solid together in the middle, before the latter perished for 32 runs.

However, a well-made half-century from Smith (59*) did the rescue work for the hosts, as he, alongside Marlon Samuels (2*) remained unbeaten at the crease, seeing that West Indies still need 340 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand on the final day of the match.