Spitfires star Alex Blake claimed his spectacular century in a high-scoring defeat at Somerset on Tuesday was the best he’s ever played.

Blake brought-up his first List A century in a 46-ball blitz at Taunton on his way to posting an incredible 116 from 58 balls.

Daniel Bell-Drummond also reached three figures for Kent and shared 120 runs from less than 12 overs with Blake, however Kent’s total of 352-6 was surpassed by the hosts with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.

Blake admitted: “It was probably the best I have ever played, certainly in a one-day format. It’s my first List A hundred and to get it in 46 balls, even on a belting wicket, was very pleasing.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t prove enough to get us a win. When he came off (captain) Sam Northeast said he thought we would need a minimum of 300 so I had licence to go out and be positive.

“With Daniel Bell-Drummond playing so well at the other end, I was able to play my natural game and once I hit a couple out of the middle it seemed to keep happening.”

Blake’s knock surpassed his previous best score by 27 runs and enhanced his List A average of 30 and he added: “I’ll take confidence from my innings and at the age of 28 I now need to produce more consistently.”

It was a second Royal London One-Day Cup loss on the spin for Kent as the hosts paced their reply perfectly with Peter Trego compiling a fine 135 and quickfire half-centuries from Dean Elgar and James Hildreth taking their side to the brink of victory, which they eventually achieved with 15 balls remaining.