Gary Ballance missed out on a valuable 50 in the friendly against Loughborough MCCU at Headingley yesterday – but admits he has to be patient in his search for a place in Yorkshire’s first team.

“If the opportunity comes my way I’ve got to be ready to take it,” said the 20-year-old left-hander, who hit an entertaining 43 off 55 balls before edging behind to a seam bowler studying Economics and Accounting.

“Games like these provide you with a good opportunity to show what you can do.

“It was a good knock, but it was just a shame that I nicked off.”

Ballance, who was made to wait until 2pm to begin his innings because of wet weather, looked confident as he combated seaming conditions to notch seven fours and a slashed six over backward point.

But the Zimbabwe-born player, a nephew of former international wicketkeeper David Houghton, was kicking himself when he edged Peter Groves (2-46 from 14 overs) to wicketkeeper David Murphy.

Rich Pyrah and Gerard Brophy later added 65 and 62 not out respectively as Yorkshire closed the day on a commanding 218-3 from 64 overs.

“It was quite tough early on because the ball was seaming around. They bowled quite well,” added left-hander Ballance, who looked particularly competent square of the wicket.

“I had a couple of good scores in Barbados and scored a hundred in the seconds against Derby last week.

“I just need to kick on and get a few more big scores because everybody at club is going well.”

More experienced pair Pyrah and Brophy also pushed their claims for a place in the White Rose’s County Championship team with contrasting half-centuries in the evening session.

Pyrah, who played in the win against Essex last week, hit six fours and a pulled six in a 69-ball 50, while Brophy reached his second 50 in two days off 113 balls despite arriving at the crease 16 overs before his partner.

The pair put on an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 120 in 28 overs after Yorkshire had been reduced to 98-3 in the early stages of the evening session.

The students had started pretty well on a wicket providing some good pace and carry, with Joe Root trapped lbw by opening bowler Gavin Baker.

When Ballance fell in the 20th over of the day, Yorkshire were 68-2.

They were three down in the 36th when debutant Callum Geldart, a stylish left-hander on the club’s Academy staff, fell in identical fashion to Ballance for 17.

Yorkshire, who are being captained by bowling coach John Blain, are also fielding first-class debutants Root and pace bowler Moin Ashraf.