Alfonso the star for victorious Somerset

Alfonso Thomas hit a boundary off the final ball to ensure Somerset won their opening Champions League game by one wicket and afterwards admitted: "I can't believe I have just done that."

Not many Somerset CCC fans could either as his previous five limited overs scores had been three not out, nought, 10 not out, nought and nought.

But Thomas came good when it mattered to complete a remarkable upset against Deccan Chargers – the star-studded winners of last year's Indian Premier League – in front of 30,000 home supporters in Hyderabad.

The resourceful South African was an obvious choice for man of the match after taking two wickets prior to his 30 not out.

He said: "I can't believe I have just done that. It was just a lot of experience coming through.

"It is team-work. Myself and James Hildreth (who made 25) just said 'let's take it to the last over' and Fidel Edwards got taken off (for bowling a second beamer) which was really unfortunate for him, but it worked in our favour.

"James gave us the momentum. Bowling-wise we pulled them back in the middle and it was an all-round good performance which sums the Somerset team up."

The Sabres are now in pole position to qualify for the next phase – they might go through even if they lose today's Group A game against Trinidad & Tobago.

But Somerset were staring at an early exit when they were reduced to 99-7, chasing 154 for victory at the Rajiv Gandi Stadium. A succession of Sabres batsmen had perished trying to loft the ball over the leg-side field. But Thomas (30 from 17) and the demoted Hildreth (25 from 24) added 50 for the eighth wicket.

Somerset's chances had been boosted at the start of the 17th over when West Indies paceman Edwards was ordered out of the attack for bowling his second beamer of the innings – this time to Hildreth.

That blow caused Deccan to use a ninth different bowler – Andrew Symonds – and he was cut for four by Thomas for a crucial boundary, to leave 14 needed from 12 balls.

Thomas then flicked RP Singh past short fine leg for another four and five were wanted from the final over.

Hildreth was bowled by New Zealander Scott Styris the next delivery to leave a run a ball required and youngster Max Waller, who had not bowled earlier, was on strike.

Waller missed the second ball and then was caught and bowled by Styris from delivery number three.

However, crucially, Thomas and Waller had time to cross while the ball was in the air and the South African was on strike with nine wickets down and three balls to go. Thomas then square drove a full toss to the boundary to level the scores.

The next ball – the second last – almost resulted in a run-out as Thomas, and last man Charl Willoughby, briefly thought of risking a single. But Thomas kept his nerve to crack the last ball of the match to the boundary to trigger huge celebrations.

The Kolpak man had played his part with the ball earlier – dismissing former Australia star Adam Gilchrist – although Deccan got off to a great start thanks to 46 from VVS Laxman. But steady mid-innings bowling from Ben Phillips (3-31) and Pete Trego (2-19) kept the required rate below eight an over.

In reply, Marcus Trescothick got Somerset off to a quick riposte with three fours before Gilchrist caught him.

Justin Langer and Craig Kieswetter soon exited and it needed a stand of 25, between Trego and Arul Suppiah, to give Somerset CCC any hope as Deccan's spinners dominated.

But when they both fell, and Phillips lobbed tamely to mid-wicket, the game looked up. However, good use of the sweep from Hildreth, and some unorthodox stroke-play from Thomas, turned the tables.