Ben Slater reflected on a bittersweet day in Southport having struck an unbeaten 64 despite Notts being dismissed in their first innings for 126, responding to Lancashire's 353/9 declared. 

The left-hander’s two-hour vigil couldn’t prevent the Green and Golds’ falling short of the follow-on target, despite partnerships of 41 with Calvin Harrison and 42 with Dane Paterson.

He then struck 17 before being dismissed in the second innings, with Notts trailing by 143 at stumps.

“It’s a strange one really,” Slater said. 

“It’s nice to get a score personally but it’s a shame as a side we couldn’t get a few more. 

“We were a little bit up against it but we’ve started positively in the second innings and we’ll have to come back and do the same again tomorrow to get something from the game.

“You have to give them credit, I thought they bowled well. They’ve got two quality international bowlers and they made good use of the conditions.”

Paterson produced solid support for Slater, though, with hefty sixes off the bowling of Nathan Lyon and George Balderson. 

The South African was uncharacteristically circumspect, for which Slater give him credit, despite his actions occasionally belying the words exchanged in the middle. 

“There were a few different conversations while we were out there and I’m not sure any of them really had an effect,” he laughed, “he mainly did the complete opposite, and his approach changed over on over.

“But it was nice to spend some time out there with him, he is one of my good mates. 

 “He is entertaining on and off the field, and there were a couple of hefty blows which gave us a little bit of momentum heading into the second innings.”

The 32-year-old also reflected on the surreal reality of heading back out to bat following on having finished not out ten minutes prior. 

“It’s probably the first time I’ve ever had to do that, really,” he admitted

“It was a case of carrying on what I had been doing but obviously the ball was going to be brand new again, they could probably get a bit more out of the pitch, so I probably had to be a bit more watchful. 

“It is always going to be tough with their bowling attack, but it was good for Joe and Will to see us through to the end of the day in the way they did, and it’ll be a case of restarting tomorrow so we can look to save the game.”