Unbeaten Ben Slater century lays the foundation for Leicestershire's first-innings reply

AN unbeaten century from on-loan opener Ben Slater saw Leicestershire lay the foundations for a substantial first-innings reply after the Foxes bowled Lancashire out for 322 on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match at Blackfinch New Road.

Slater, whom Leicestershire have signed on a two-week loan from Nottinghamshire, hit 15 fours in reaching his hundred off 216 deliveries, playing a dominant role in an opening partnership of 153 with the prolific Hassan Azad.

Azad, who averaged 54 in the County Championship last season, played with characteristic patience in scoring 58 off 165 deliveries before popping up a catch off the inside edge to short leg off the bowling of Tom Hartley, giving the Lancashire debutant his first first-class wicket.

Another debutant, seamer George Balderson, then also picked up his first wicket when Harry Dearden mistimed an attempted off-drive and gave Lancashire captain Dave Vilas a simple catch at extra cover.

The Foxes had begun the day by taking Lancashire's four remaining wickets for 57 runs after the Red Rose county had resumed on 265 for 6.

But the Foxes also incurred a five-run penalty, when umpires Nick Cook and Rob White adjudged fast bowler Dieter Klein had committed a Level 2 offence under Law 42, Players' Conduct. Left-arm seamer Klein hit Danny Lamb on the foot when he threw it at the stumps after the Lancashire batsman had defended his delivery back down the pitch.

Overnight batsmen Lamb and George Balderson had taken Lancashire's score on to 283 when Chris Wright found the edge of Balderson's bat and Colin Ackermann took a low catch at second slip.

Veteran seamer Wright quickly picked up his second wicket of the innings when Tom Bailey skied an attempted pull at a short ball high to Tom Taylor at mid-on, but Lamb hit some fine drives in going to 27 before advancing down the wicket to try and hit left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson over long-on, missing, and seeing his leg stump knocked back.

Ed Moulton, the third of Lancashire's debutants in the match, was then dismissed first ball, leg before half-forward to a ball that went on with the arm.