IT MAY have taken 125-matches and the best part of nine years to achieve it, but there was no hiding Matthew Walker’s delight in scoring his maiden National League century for Kent in Bristol last week.

In limited overs’ terms, 101 from 108 balls is no great feat, but for 29-year-old Walker his century against Gloucestershire marked a coming of age in terms of one-day cricket.

He said: "When you go in to bat at four or five you don’t always get great chances to score hundreds and I’ve only ever been close a couple of times in the league," said the former King’s Rochester and England Under-19 prodigy.

"So yes, it was nice to get the hundred, but even nicer to get runs in such a massive game in terms of us staying up in Division 1.

"The pitch looked a bit of a cabbage patch before hand and no one really knew what it would do. The odd one nibbled around a bit in the first 10 overs, but after that the ball came onto the bat quite nicely and was very much my type of wicket.

"I got to 70 and thought, ‘right, here goes’ and when I got past 94 my previous best Geraint Jones came up and said ‘you’re playing too well to throw it away now, get ‘em in ones and twos, make sure you get it’.

"One ton in 125 games is a big ratio I know, so I’m quietly pleased with myself and it’s a nice landmark to have behind me now."

Walker concedes that in some ways his career has failed to live up to the early expectations of back-to-back England Under-19 tours and a glut of schoolboy runs, but the little left-hander is comfortable with his lot of late.

An ever present all summer, he remains on course to post 1,000 championship runs for the first time and, for the first time in almost a decade, can almost look forward to his contract renewal negotiations.

"I’ve felt good all year and I hope to finish the season strongly," he added. "You never know what your future holds in this game because times are hard in county cricket and clubs are looking to reduce their squad numbers, but I’m philosophical about it.

"I’m relaxed this year. I’m a bit older and wiser and having a wife and child has been a massive influence on me. The family is more important to me now.

"Sure I back myself when I’m on the field, but I don’t get so wrapped up in the game or worry about the pressure of youngsters coming into the squad or my contract being up.

"I’ve enjoyed my cricket more than I ever have this year and I’d like to think that shows to the public and in my performances."