In-form Gary Ballance is relishing the fight for a regular place in Yorkshire’s first team.

The Zimbabwe born 21-year-old has slotted into the middle order well in both County Championship and Twenty20 cricket during the last five weeks.

He has scored fifties in each of his last three four-day matches and 25 and 46 in the last two 20-over clashes.

The left-hander was forced to bide his time for a chance at the start of the summer following a successful winter playing domestic cricket in his homeland.

But, thanks to injuries and the odd international call-up, he was given a chance last month.

And, ahead of tonight’s Friends Life t20 clash against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, Ballance declared: “I very much feel part of the Yorkshire first team now.

“I’ve had some decent scores, and I feel like I fit in quite well now. So far it’s been a good season for me. I’ve scored runs in all forms of the game.

“They asked me to keep working hard and keep scoring runs in the seconds when I came back from Zimbabwe, then to take my chance when it came. I feel like I’ve done that so far.

“But there is so much competition for places at the moment, and I know that I have to keep doing well to keep my place in the team.”

Ballance was the joint top-scorer with 46 off 32 balls alongside Joe Root during Wednesday’s home t20 defeat against Derbyshire, which leaves the North Division table looking extremely crowded.

Yorkshire have won three of their seven matches, and have seven points as they head to Edgbaston.

Tonight’s clash is the first of two in three days, with Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday.

“It was disappointing to lose on Wednesday, but that’s the way Twenty20 cricket can go sometimes,” continued Ballance.

“These two games are huge. It’s a very tight group, and there’s not really an outstanding team because everyone’s beating everyone.

“If we can win both games, we’ll be right up there by the end of Sunday.

“We feel confident we can qualify already. But, if we were to win both games, then our confidence about making it to the quarter-finals would only increase.”

Ballance shared 82 inside 11 overs with Root against Derbyshire, but it was still not enough following the struggles of the top order as they chased 153.

Even so, he accepted a share of the responsibility for the county’s third North Division loss.

“I feel I’ve always batted well with Joe,” he said.

“It definitely makes it easier to come into the first-team with someone you know so well.

“We have played a lot of second team and youth team cricket together, so we both feel very comfortable at the crease with each other.

“But had we stepped up a few overs earlier, we might have got home.”

All-rounder Tim Bresnan is expected to make his return from a torn right calf tonight.

Bresnan has not been named in England’s limited overs squads for the forthcoming matches against Sri Lanka.