IT has been four years since Connor Slattery made his debut in the Bathurst District Cricket Association’s first grade competition, so when he hit his maiden century last Saturday it was little wonder it was a moment he relished.
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“Bloody oath I enjoyed it,” Slattery said of the 105 he scored against Bathurst City.
As well as being a personal milestone, Slattery’s knock at The Scots School came at a time when his St Pat’s Old Boys side needed someone to stand up.
Defending premiers Bathurst City had the Saints at 2-34 when he arrived at the crease and from there they slipped to 4-57.
But Slattery joined Bailey Brien (31) in halting their rival’s moment as they put on 83 runs for the fifth wicket. From there the Saints went on to make 267.
“We were four for not many, if that happened to us last year we would’ve just gave up, but this year with a few of the young boys coming up, they’ve really stepped us for us, it’s been really good,” Slattery said.
As an 18-year-old Slattery is still one of the more junior Saints in first grade, yet he does not view himself as one of the ‘young fellas’. Instead he tries to lead by example.
“I see myself as probably one of the more experienced guys because I’ve been playing firsts for a few years now, whereas some of the others are only first or second year,” he said.
“I’m still one of the younger players in the team, but I’ve got more experience than the other young fellas.”
It was that experience which helped him in the middle last Saturday, tempering some aggressive scoring – he hit two sixes and 10 boundaries – with patience when required.
He survived a dropped catch while in his 30s and went on to anchor the innings for his side.
“I gave one chance, I hit it to mid-off and it went through his hands luckily,” he said.
“I hit it and straight away thought ‘Oh no, you’re joking’, but I hit it pretty hard. I was hoping it went straight through his hands and it was lucky that it did.
“When I first came off for drinks I was on 50 and I when I came off for second drinks I was on 90. Then I just counted on from then.
“Bloody oath I was nervous. I just hit it back past the bowler on the on-side, there was no-one at mid-on and that was the 100.
“I’ve been playing firsts for two or three years now, so I’m glad I’ve finally got one.”
While Slattery finally fell to Clint Moxon for 105, the knock continued what has been a good season with the bat for the talented teenager.
That ton added to a pair of half centuries he scored before the Christmas-new year break and took his tally in first grade this season to 261.
He has also had some handy knocks for the Bathurst District Cricket Association’s first XI.
Slattery hit the winning runs in the final over against Parkes last Sunday, a result which helped Bathurst into the Western Zone Premier League decider.
Earlier in that same competition he made a crucial 23 to get Bathurst over the line against Orange, while in the Western Zone Plate match in October against Lithgow, Slattery scored an unbeaten 43.
Those innings have certainly given him confidence.
“It has helped 100 percent, it’s given me a lot more confidence, I know I can actually play at that standard, that level of cricket. It’s been pretty good experience,” he said.