VIKRAM Solanki hit his third one-day century of the season to help Worcestershire maintain their totesport League promotion challenge with a 34-run win over Division Two rivals Somerset at Taunton.

The opener scored 122 out of his side's modest 225, hitting 14 fours and two sixes in his 114-ball innings.

The only real support came from Steve Rhodes, who contributed a crucial 33 late on as Nixon McLean claimed four for 35 for the visitors.

Somerset looked to be in control when Ricky Ponting (46) and James Hildreth (31) took them to 90 for two. But good bowling from Kabir Ali, Andrew Hall and Gareth Batty saw the Royals fight back and dismiss the visitors for 191.

John Francis did his best to steady the Sabres with 38, but struggled to score at the required rate as his side suffered their fourth successive defeat.

Solanki had held the Worcestershire innings together in confident style, adapting his innings to the circumstances perfectly. He hit 11 boundaries in reaching his half-century off 45 balls, but then reined himself in, striking only two more in getting to three figures off 105 deliveries.

There was scant support after an opening stand of 48 with Stephen Moore as McLean ripped through the top order, sending back Graeme Hick, Ben Smith, David Leatherdale and Andy Bichel in two spells from the Old Pavilion End.

Worcestershire were in deep trouble when Rhodes strode out at number 10 to score his runs off 36 balls and help add 82 with Solanki, who was lbw to Keith Dutch in the final over, having added two sixes off Ian Blackwell to his score the over before.

McLean was easily the pick of a Somerset attack welcoming back Richard Johnson after a month on the sidelines with an ankle problem.