England continued their warm-up for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide as they begun a two-day match at Alice Springs on Friday.
Ashes Test hopefuls Jonny Bairstow and the uncapped Ballance top scored in their total of 7-212 declared, before the inexperienced local team reached 0-16 in reply at the close.
Asked to bat first in hot conditions at Traeger Park, the tourists slumped to 6-149 before Bairstow and Graeme Swann (29) added 49 for the seventh wicket.
Bairstow was unbeaten on 31 while Zimbabwe-born Ballance scored his patient 55 off 134 balls at number three.
Ballance is a contender to replace Jonathan Trott in next week's second Ashes Test, after his departure from the tour due to a stress-related illness, but an untimely run out scuppered his hopes of a century that would have placed him at the front of the queue.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old did enough to catch the eye, although he is not getting carried away.
"It would be a great feeling but I don't really want to look too far ahead," Ballance said on his prospects of making his Test debut.
"After a few low scores at the beginning of the tour, I've worked hard in the nets and if that chance does come up, I think I'll be ready."
Michael Carberry (six), Joe Root (22) and Matt Prior (19) all missed out on much-needed time in the middle.
New Zealand-born all-rounder Ben Stokes, also in the running to replace Trott, batted at number five and was caught at short leg for 28.
England bowled 10 overs at the Chairman's XI before stumps, with openers Marcus Harris (10) and Steve Cazzulino (five) unbeaten.
