A MASTERFUL unbeaten 131 from Dean Elgar helped Somerset on their way to a second successive victory in the Royal London One-Day Cup as they saw off Sussex by nine runs at Hove.

The hosts' target was adapted to 165 from 20 overs in a rain-affected chase, but Somerset took wickets at regular intervals to keep their unbeaten white ball run going.

Batting first, the visitors lost Steve Davies in the first over - the wicketkeeper-batsman recording his second duck in as many innings in the competition - and Peter Trego (20) and captain Jim Allenby (23) then failed to cash in on promising starts as Somerset slipped to 59-3.

Elgar and James Hildreth steadied the ship, adding 61 for the fourth wicket before the latter fell for 24, but it was the partnership that followed between the South African and Adam Hose that catapulted Somerset towards their excellent total.

The pair added 151 between them, with Elgar continuing his fine early season form with to finish on 131* from 127 balls with 10 fours and four 6s, while Hose added three maximums and five boundaries on his way to an impressive 76.

Some late big hitting from the in-form Roelof van der Merwe took Somerset past 300 and, after a rain delay, the visitors then made the ideal start with the ball as Craig Overton dismissed Chris Nash with the first ball of the Sussex reply.

Luke Wright and Harry Finch accelerated for the hosts, but van der Merwe struck with his first ball to clean bowl Finch for 27 before Max Waller claimed the key wicket of Wright three overs later.

After another rain delay, Sussex resumed their reply needing 80 runs from 35 balls - a tall order, and one that became an even tougher task when South African international Stiaan van Zyl was caught by James Hildreth off the bowling of Josh Davey for 18.

David Wiese followed cheaply, with Elgar claiming the wicket of his fellow countryman, before top scorer Laurie Evans (40) was dismissed by Lewis Gregory to leave Somerset in the driving seat.

Craig Overton returned to bowl at the death and calmed any nerves by dismissing Will Beer and Jofra Archer in quick succession to leave Sussex nine runs short of their target and ensure Somerset's 100% record stays intact ahead of the visit of Kent on Tuesday.