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 t20 cricket of late.

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

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.

Thanks to injuries and the international call-ups, he was given a chance last month.

And, ahead of tonight's t20 meeting with Warwickshire at Edgbaston, Ballance said: "I very much feel part of the first team now. So far it's been a good season for me, I've scored 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 it.''

Ballance was joint top-scorer with 46 off 32 balls alongside Joe Root during Wednesday's home loss to Derbyshire, which leaves the North Division table looking crowded.

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

Tonight's game is the first of two in three days, with Worcestershire the opponents at New Road on Sunday.

"It was disappointing to lose on Wednesday, but that's the way Twenty20 cricket can go sometimes," he continued.

"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, 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. The top order struggled as they chased 153.

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

"I feel I've always batted well with Joe," he said. "It makes it easier to come into the first-team with someone you know so well.

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

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 against Sri Lanka.