Cricket We've still made a great start to Blast, says Kerr, after defeat to Kent

DANIEL Bell-Drummond scored a brilliant hundred as Kent won by four runs at the Cooper Associates Ground to end Somerset's five-match winning start to the Vitality Blast T20 South Group campaign.

- By ANDY STOCKHAUSEN

The 31-year-old registered a high-octane innings of 100 from 49 balls, smashed 12 fours and four sixes and dominated a record-breaking opening stand of 158 with Tawanda Muyeye as the visitors posted a formidable 228-5 after losing the toss and being put in on Sunday. Muyeye weighed in with a 40-ball 70, helping himself to six fours and three sixes in the process, while Harry Finch finished unbeaten on 22 from 13 balls. It was a chastening experience for the Somerset bowlers, Riley Meredith having the best of it with a return of 3-44 from four overs.

Tom Banton smashed 68 off 33 balls and dominated an opening stand of 91 with Will Smeed to give the Somerset reply the perfect start. But they were unable to maintain the onslaught and Nathan Gilchrist and Joey Evison claimed two wickets apiece as Kent held their nerve to inflict a first defeat of the tournament upon last season’s runners-up.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: “Ultimately, it’s disappointing to lose the game. At the halfway stage of our innings, we were in a great position.

“We came through the power-play in front and Tom Banton played a brilliant innings to give us a great platform. But we were not able to sustain that during the middle overs.

“We obviously got very close, but to chase 200-plus twice in a week is a big ask. It's a fantastic wicket, but Kent just edged it with the bat and the ball. We weren’t quite clinical enough with the ball and not quite sharp enough in the field. Those are the areas we need to look at.