Slater celebrates first pro deal in style

He followed up his maiden first class ton on day one of the County Championship match with 119 today (Thursday) to become only the 15th Derbyshire player to achieve the feat throughout history.

His contributions with the bat have put Derbyshire in to a commanding position at the County Ground, as the hosts declared to leave their near neighbours 521 runs to win after lunch on day three.

The 23-year-old said he was relieved to get to three figures after his knock of 104 on Tuesday, having previously recorded three half centuries since breaking in to the team in July of this year.

“I’ve been in decent nick and been in a few situations where I should have kicked on, maybe, so it’s nice to get there,” said Slater.

“Graeme Welch has been on at me about it, saying ‘get me a hundred’, so I’m pleased to do it. There were a few nerves when I was getting close to the hundred but not as many as I thought really.

“I think it helped getting the contract sorted as well. It’s been there for me for some time but I’ve been struggling to sign it because we have been here, there and everywhere, so I don’t know if it made me relax a little bit more knowing it was out of the way.”

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