CENTURION Tom Abell was delighted after inspiring Somerset to a 10-run victory over Sussex at the Cooper Associates County Ground – a win that also secured his side a home quarter-final in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

The 22-year-old hit 106 – his first List A ton – and also contributed a brilliant run out as well as taking a catch to cap a fine all-round display – as Somerset made sure of a top two finish with a game to spare in the group.

Having won the toss and batted, Somerset were bowled out for 237 in 48.1 overs.

Then, led by TIm Groenewald's 3-30, they reduced their visitors to 227-9 in reply, with Abell also staring in the field; he brilliantly ran out Sussex batsman Harry Finch while also caught Ajmal Shahzad off the bowling of Max Waller.

Meanwhile, Groenewald's dismissal of Sussex skipper Luke Wright was his 500th career wicket.

Although it turned out to be a nervy finish after Sussex had battled back from 95-7 to give themselves a shout of snatching victory.

Abell said: “It doesn’t get much better than that and I would have snapped your hand off at the start of the day.

“I feel absolutely chuffed for the whole squad and the club and this win means a home quarter-final so it has been a really good day.

“I think it was a really good wicket and they bowled really well to give credit to them.

“However we kept losing wickets and couldn’t build any partnerships going into the back end of the innings.

“But, you know, cricket is a funny game and we thought we were under par.

“But then we came out and bowled and, in the field, we were absolutely awesome, so credit to all the bowlers and it bodes well for us moving forward.

“When I came in I tried to play in the situation I was in and play the anchor role and try to bat through if I could and allow our stroke players to play around me and I guess, in the end, it was a decent enough score.

“I am not sure that I have all the shots in the book like some people but, for me, it was about trying to reduce the risk but still scoring.

“My one day options are something I have worked really hard on and I am just glad that I was able to contribute to the team winning.

“It has been a great day of Somerset cricket, growing up here it has brought back memories of when I used to come and watch the games.

“The crowd were awesome and it does give you that extra little bit when they are right behind you so I am just absolutely delighted about today.”

Winning captain Jim Allenby said: “I didn’t think that we had enough runs at the break and we were probably 60-70 under par.

“It has been another brilliant cricket pitch here again and Simon (Lee) has produced some great wickets for us, kept more grass on them this year and it has played so well.

“A few of us chucked our wickets away up front and it was only Tom’s hundred that kept us in the game.”

Talking about his side’s bowling, Allenby said: “What I do expect is for us to fight and make it tough and we did that and, to be honest, it was just a special performance the whole way through and the bowling and fielding was of the highest class.”