Terryn Fray, the Somerset batsman, had to pinch himself to make sure he was not dreaming after his match-winning century swept the hosts to an emphatic eight-wicket victory and earned him man-of-the-match accolades.

“It is so surreal, I could not believe it,” said the 23-year old opening bat, who struck a chanceless and unbeaten 121, his first Cup Match hundred. “It is one of the best feelings in the world and words cannot explain it. This is a dream come true.”

After being dismissed cheaply in the first innings, Fray was determined to redeem himself in the second.

“Last night I was kicking myself how I got out yesterday,” he said. “But I just told myself, ‘You have to come out and prove to these people that I deserve to be here.’

“I knew that I was going to win this game and knew I was not going to get out. When I get in a mind frame like that, I just know nothing is going to stop me from doing what I want to do. I would have batted on for ever if I had to today.

“It was a good wicket and you just had to bat and apply yourself. A few started to stay low, but once you got behind it, you knew exactly what you had to do.

“This is probably my best hundred and to achieve it and win the match makes it even more special. I had a chance to take a stump today, but I did not want one because the hundred means so much more to me than a stump. That hundred is going to stay in my heart for ever and I hope it stays in everyone else’s, too.”

Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, was delighted to see his opening bat join an exclusive group of players to have scored centuries in Cup Match.

“Terryn is a very talented young batsman who has all the qualities, the right attitude and the right technique,” he said. “I kept telling him when I went out there that this is his day, go score a hundred and win the match.”

Janeiro Tucker, the Somerset all-rounder, also heaped praise on Fray. “Terryn can bat,” he said. “Terryn is a guy whereas he sits down and puts his head into it and he is disciplined. When he got that hundred, I told him do not get out — and he didn’t.”

As well as achieving a maiden Cup Match hundred, Fray shared in a century partnership for the second wicket with Tre Manders, who scored fifties in both innings, which carried Somerset to the brink of victory.