Kent (259-5) bt Somerset (222) by 37 runs
Neil Dexter, thrust into the limelight by the imminent birth of Martin van Jaarsveld's first child, made the most of a rare opportunity to score the unbeaten hundred which set up Kent's ultimately comfortable victory.
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Van Jaarsveld, the stand-out batsman in this year's Friends Provident Trophy, understandably put paternity before professional commitments, but his team-mates shrugged off his absence to give a committed all-round performance. Their reward is an away tie against Durham in the semi-finals.
Runs were acquired grudgingly on a slow pitch, backed up by an even slower outfield. Dexter's unbeaten 101 exemplified the struggle and though opener Craig Kieswetter responded for Somerset with a more fluent 90, they were pegged back by inspired catching and fielding by Kent.
Darren Stevens twice scored direct hits with only a single stump to aim at; the second put paid to Somerset's challenge in the 46th over.
Kent's decision to switch the game from a saturated Canterbury was vindicated, although their total looked competitive rather than decisive. Marcus Trescothick, despite a wretched run in the trophy matches, still represented a threat and Kent were understandably elated when they claimed his wicket in the fourth over. James Tredwell took an excellent catch to his left at second slip as Trescothick edged an intended drive.
The Somerset opener will be glad to see the back of this competition. In six innings he has amassed only 47 runs - an average of 7.83.
Kieswetter, a regular No 8 in Somerset's championship side, and Justin Langer added 80 in 18 overs for the second wicket before Langer was caught behind in off-spinner Tredwell's first over, trying to angle a shot to third man.
Dexter, 21, held an excellent catch running back from mid-on to get rid of James Hildreth, then Stevens followed a smart stop at backward point with a spot-on throw to run out the dangerous Ian Blackwell.
The game tilted further in Kent's favour in the 39th over when Kieswetter was sixth out, caught by Joe Denly at deep midwicket to end a 119-ball innings including six fours and three sixes.
Alfonso Thomas was bowled and John Francis caught behind as Kent's canny opening bowlers, Azhar Mahmood and Yasir Arafat, kept their nerve.
Charl Willoughby was typically accurate at the start of Kent's innings, conceding only 24 runs as he bowled his 10 overs straight through, but Denly and Rob Key gave Kent an ideal springboard with an opening stand of 68 off 16 overs.
Dexter, understandably rusty given his lack of first-team cricket this season, played a curious innings in which bold hits, notably three sixes, were interspersed with a multitude of edges and mistimed shots.
A second-wicket stand of 104 in 20 overs between Key and Dexter left Kent well placed for a late assault. Key was surprised to given out caught behind for 73 after a half-hearted Somerset appeal.
Dexter was in danger of falling just short of his hundred, but when partner Geraint Jones took three off the penultimate ball of the innings Dexter worked the 113th ball he faced behind square on the leg side to advance from 99 to101.
