A superb unbeaten century by Neil Dexter helped Kent Spitfires beat Somerset Sabres by 37 runs to book a Friends Provident Trophy semi-final against Durham.

Dexter's contribution saw Kent achieve a winning total of 259 for five which proved to be enough as the home side then skittled Somerset out for just 222 at Beckenham.

The Spitfires dismissed the in-form Marcus Trescothick as early as the fourth over when the former England batsman, on five, flashed at Yasir Arafat and was caught at second slip.

A solid second-wicket stand of 80 in 18 overs between Craig Kieswetter and Justin Langer (36) took the total to 93 before Kent claimed the wicket of the left-handed Australian as he attempted to steer a ball to third man off James Tredwell and was caught behind the stumps.

Upon reaching his 50 Kieswetter lifted off-spinner Tredwell for a straight six, and two balls later drove him to the extra-cover boundary. Another massive six at long-off, off Tredwell, took him to 75, but 10 runs later he lost his partner as a brilliant direct-hit throw from Darren Stevens at deep gulley ran out Ian Blackwell (18) to reduce the figures to 166 for four.

They then lost their fifth wicket on 178, and finally, four runs later, Kieswetter's excellent innings of 90 from 119 balls with six fours and three sixes ended with a catch at deep wide mid-wicket off Stevens.

There was not much left in the visitors' batting as the Spitfires claimed their last four wickets for just 18 runs, with the last two falling off successive balls on the total of 222, with 25 balls to spare. Arafat was the pick of the bowlers, with three for 23.

Earlier, Rob Key and Joe Denly had given the Spitfires a fine start, putting on 68 after deciding to make first use of a grassless pitch. While Key began steadily, his partner attempted to play forceful strokes from early in his innings.

The second bowling change brought the breakthrough for the Sabres with Denly, on 36 from 57 balls, bowled by Alfonso Thomas by a ball that kept low and came in sharply.

Thereafter, Key and Dexter, who was included late in the side as Martin van Jaarsveld was unavailable for family reasons, combined in a hard-hitting stand of 104 in 20 overs, with Dexter playing the more aggressive role.

He should have been held on the wide mid-wicket boundary off Blackwell, but Steffan Jones misjudged the catch, and the ball went for four. He celebrated that missed chance with a straight drive for four at the next ball, and later lifted Blackwell for a straight six.

He was severe on Jones as well, whom he hit for six to mid-on, and drove the next ball for four to point. His half-century came from 66 balls in the 35th over from another boundary, at third man.

Meanwhile, Key had brought up his half-century from 63 balls shortly after he had driven a four to mid-wicket off Thomas.

His innings ended with Ben Phillips being brought back for a second spell. Key promptly hit him for six, which took him to 73 from 87 balls with five fours and a six, and he then snicked the next ball into the wicketkeeper's gloves; that was 172 for two.

While Dexter continued his hitting spree, picking up runs rapidly - which eventually brought him three sixes and five fours - the Sabres grabbed three quick wickets at the other end on 206, 212, and 238.

Finally, Dexter hit two runs off the last ball, which took him to 101 from 113 balls. Phillips had the best bowling figures of two for 55.

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