James Hildreth hit a brilliant 112 not out to guide Somerset to a five-wicket Friends Provident Trophy victory over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

And there was also an important debut contribution of 79 from Zander de Bruyn as the Sabres overhauled an imposing total of 286-4 with nine balls to spare.

The result means Somerset have taken five points from their first three FPT group matches and are strongly placed to qualify from the South-West Division.

After the game director of cricket Brian Rose told somersetcountycc.co.uk: "This was another tremendous display by the players, especially in view of the fact that we were without Justin Langer and Andy Caddick.

"We thought the match might be slipping away from us when Hampshire scored quickly at the end of their innings, but after losing Marcus Trescothick early we batted with great intelligence.

"James Hildreth and Zander de Bruyn got us ahead of the required rate, then realised that and reined themselves back to ensure we kept wickets in hand.

"Craig Kieswetter contributed with the bat and also kept wicket very well. To win with nine balls to spare was a great effort." 

Trescothick captained the side in the absence of migraine victim Langer and elected to field first after winning the toss.

Michael Lumb and Michael Carberry then produced an opening stand of 83 for Hampshire before Ben Phillips broke through, having Carberry caught behind by Kieswetter for 30.

Only nine runs had been added when Lumb fell for 55 to a catch by Ian Blackwell at long-on off Peter Trego, who did a good steadying job for the Sabres with his 1-34 from seven overs after Charl Willoughby's typically accurate ten overs for 33 runs at the start of the innings.

The Hawks were given real hope by a third-wicket stand of 99 between John Crawley (51) and Kevin Pietersen (62). It was broken when Crawley gave the impressive Kieswetter his second catch, off Steffan Jones, having faced 55 balls and hit 2 fours and 2 sixes.

Pietersen became a key first victim for Somerset for de Bruyn, who bowled the England player with a yorker when he might have cut loose in the closing overs.

As it was, Pietersen hit 4 fours and 2 sixes in his 59-ball innings and a rapid 55 off 36 deliveries by Sean Ervine ensured a very competitive total for the home side.

It looked even better when Trescothick was bowled by Ervine for a single at the start of Somerset's reply with the total on only four.

But Kieswetter again showed his prowess as a one-day opener by hitting 46 at nearly a run a ball before being caught and bowled by Lamb with the scoreboard reading 69-2.

That brought in Hildreth to join de Bruyn for what proved the crucial partnership. The pair added 159 for the third wicket to put Somerset in a winning position.

Newcomer de Bruyn, batting at three, faced 108 balls and hit 4 fours and 2 sixes to complete a hugely effective first appearance before being caught by Lumb off the bowling of Greg Lamb.

But it was Hildreth who took the honours, giving the England selectors a reminder of his talent as a one-day batsman by striking 12 fours and 2 sixes in a perfectly-paced 90-ball stay.

Blackwell contributed 21 off just 15 deliveries and, although Lamb dismissed him on the way to figures of 4-47 and John Francis fell cheaply there was no way back for the Hawks.

Wes Durston, with 18 not out, helped Hildreth finish off the game and complete another highly encouraging performance from the Sabres.

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