TOM Banton described hitting the six which brought up his maiden T20 century as "the best feeling I've ever had".

Banton smashed 100 from 51 balls against Kent on Saturday night, as Somerset won by 55 runs at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Somerset captain Tom Abell (63) also posted his highest T20 score to help the hosts to 206-8.

And three wickets in an over from Craig Overton proved decisive as Kent crumbled to 151 all out.

Banton said afterwards: "It was 2011 the last time we beat Kent [in a T20], so that's always nice.

"The boys fielded well and it came off for us with the bat.

"It was a slow pitch to begin with so I took my time to get into it.

"When I hit that six [to score 100], it was the best feeling I've ever had.

"We've always been a good side, we've tried to get on a roll and win games."

Faced with the possibility of picking up an unwanted world record - having lost 11 consecutive T20 matches to Kent - Somerset opted to bat first, but they lost Babar Azam and James Hildreth early on.

Yet there was no stopping Banton, who struck nine fours and four sixes in his ton - albeit with a stroke of luck, as he was dropped on 57 by Adam Milne at mid-wicket.

He had the perfect partner in Abell, who played a well-judged supporting role in a stand of 102 in 8.5 overs for the third wicket.

Banton, Eddie Byrom and Tom Lammonby all went in rapid fashion, leaving Somerset at 179-5, and although Abell hit several more lusty blows, Somerset rather staggered to 206-8.

Zak Crawley led the Kent reply with 35 from 24 balls, but was caught off Jerome Taylor, and then Lammonby saw off Heino Kuhn with the score on 89 in the 11th over.

The 13th over was crucial in the outcome of the game - Overton accounting for Daniel Bell-Drummond, Sam Billings and Mohamed Nabi with five balls, and Kent were reeling at 101-5.

Max Waller picked up two more wickets, and Lammonby two run outs, and Somerset had their win.

Skipper Abell commented afterwards: "That's our first win in 12 games against Kent and it tastes pretty sweet.

"Tom Banton is a real talent and everywhere you look on social media tonight, it's going crazy for him.

"He's been incredibly consistent at the top of the order and his innings simply took the game away from Kent.

"It was a very special knock and it was a pleasure being at the other end watching him go about his work.

"My job was to play second fiddle and support him.

"When Tom was dropped in the fifties, it was a big moment in the game.

"When you get one guy scoring a hundred and another 50, then it's hard for the opposition.

"We knew this would be a big week for us, playing three games against three good sides.

"To get three wins is brilliant and puts us in with a chance of making the knockout stages."

The result takes Somerset up to third in the South Group table (with five wins and four defeats), with their next match at home to fifth-placed Gloucestershire on Friday (August 16, 6.30pm).