Martin van Jaarsveld’s first hundred of the season provided Kent Spitfires with the solid platform to register only their third Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A win of the season by beating fellow strugglers Worcestershire by 86 runs with more than five overs to spare at New Road on Sunday.

Acting captain van Jaarsveld (pictured), again replacing injured Rob Key, hit 124 including 12 fours and two sixes. He added 107 in 13 overs with Sam Northeast (30) as Kent made an impressive 291-7. David Balcombe (4-38) and Simon Cook (3-40) then helped dismiss the home side for 205.

Van Jaarsveld's previous century for Kent was in September last year when he scored 110 not out against Warwickshire in the county championship.

Kent included four youngsters in the side, with teenage openers Daniel Bell-Drummond, making his one-day debut, and wicket-keeper Sam Billings giving them a good start with a stand of 37 in only five overs.

Billings struck five fours in his 16-ball 26, while Bell-Drummond, who will celebrate his 18th birthday this Thursday, hit 42 from 30 balls with five fours and two sixes. Bell-Drummond was fresh from scoring four half-centuries for England under-19’s in the losing series against South Africa.

Worcestershire, always behind the rate, were 120-5 at the halfway stage with Moeen Ali hitting 55. Ben Scott (5) and Gavin Andrew (33) then fell to Balcombe in the same over, before the Hampshire loan signing bowled last man Jack Shantry (14) to win the game.