Daniel Bell-Drummond has spoken about his happiness at making his first T20 century, which he dedicated to close friend Michael Carberry.

Bell-Drummond made a stunning, unbeaten 112 to help the Kent Spitfires to an eight-wicket win over Surrey at Tunbridge Wells; his first three-figure score in the shortest form of the game, as he helped his side keep their hopes of a NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final place alive.

Speaking at the close, Bell-Drummond admitted that his knock was in honour of Carberry, after it was announced on Thursday evening that the ex-Kent man, now at Hampshire, has a cancerous tumour.

“I had the three weeks out, and I was just desperate to get back”, Bell-Drummond said after the match, himself having just returned from a thumb and wrist injury.

“Michael Carberry – I know him quite well, he’s a mentor to me, and it really hurt me about his news last night.

“That was for him, and it gave me a lot of motivation for today.”

To make such an impressive knock in his first game back after injury would have come as a pleasant surprise even to Bell-Drummond, who celebrated reaching the landmark by throwing his helmet to the floor, jumping into the air and punching the air in delight.

“At the start of the week, I wouldn’t really have seen that coming”, the 22-year-old admitted. “I was seeing specialists about my wrist and thumb area. I was a bit pessimistic about it on Monday, and then on Friday we’re here. It just shows you that cricket and life is quite funny at times.

“I’m overjoyed. It was a long three weeks out for me, and I was a bit bored at times watching the guys just out with a little thumb injury. It was an annoying three weeks, but actually, I got some rest up, got to see family and friends, and to be honest, it might have been a good thing, as it showed – I’ve got my career-best in the T20!

“Whatever happens, it’s just fate really, and thankfully it was my day. I had that chance at mid-wicket when I was on 30-odd. It’s just one of those things, and I was just glad that I was able to come through and see the team home.”

Bell-Drummond also praised the efforts of his captain, Sam Northeast, who continued his fine form this season with another half-century in Kent’s chase.

Northeast made 57 in a partnership of 151 with Bell-Drummond; Kent’s highest partnership for any wicket, against any opponent, in T20 cricket.

Bell-Drummond, whose 112 not out came from just 65 balls, joins up with the England Lions for a tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka tomorrow, alongside teammate Sam Billings. The Lewisham-born opener said he feels that his captain can not be far away from a call-up too.

“It’s one of those things – his stats speak for itself”, Bell-Drummond said.

“Obviously I can’t call for selections or anything like that – it’s not up to us. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s a bit – not surprised… he’s doing a lot better than a lot of people out there. I think that’s cricket, and he’ll continue to get stronger.

“He’s only 26 still, and I think the harder he has to work, when he does make it, he’ll know how hard and how long he’s had to wait. Hopefully it will be good for him in the long run, but he’s definitely proven to be the best player in our team, and he keeps showing it, game after game.”