STAND-IN skipper Shaun Udal hailed Hampshire's win against Somerset as one of the highlights of his career.

Former Hampshire vice captain Udal, pictured above, skippered his home county for the first time since standing in for Robin Smith against New Zealand A at Portsmouth four years ago.

But yesterday he helped close the gap on second placed Glamorgan, on whom Hampshire still have a game in hand, by scoring 74 off just 84 balls before leading his side to a comprehensive 275-run win.

Udal said: "Words can't describe how I feel. I'm happy and proud and over the moon."

The off-spinner's day could have started badly - he was dropped at first slip before he had scored, when Hampshire were 134 for 7.

"As soon as I nicked it I thought 'Oh no' and looked round - and then decided to try and make them pay.

"Some days you do and some you don't, but today was my day and when it's your day you have to try and cash in.

"I always thought 350 was more than enough, even with three frontline bowlers missing, and I was very pleased to contribute in a large way to us winning.

"After losing the two early wickets we were trying to scarmble a lead of 280 but to end up with 420 was a dream come true.

"To show the fight we showed in the morning was particularly pleasing because it wasn't a particularly pleasant wicket, but you can only do what you can on the surface given to you and we adapted better than they did.

"We were very professional and I was very proud of all of the players."

Udal declared soon after Shane Watson reached his hundred - and Hampshire took the last of the eight wickets needed to bowl out Somerset's nine fit men with the first ball of the 'last half hour'.

Udal added: "Shane Watson played as good an innings as you'll ever see here on an unpredictable wicket and I wanted him to get a hundred desperately, he was outstanding in the cirumstances."

Hampshire were minus seamers Dimi Mascarenhas and Watson through injury when Somerset batted yesterday, with the visitors minus Richard Johnson and Keith Parsons through injury.

Udal said: "It was basically nine a side but at least our guys could bat. We had a bit of an advantage but that wasn't our fault or our problem, we just had to concentrate on winning the game."

Manager Paul Terry added: "We said at the start of the day that we needed to bat well to give them a big total to chase.

"In the team talk we set out to win it tonight, which went to plan as well.

"Dropping Shaun on nought was a crucial drop, but it was important we got early wickets, which we did.

"Chris Tremlett and Billy Taylor bowled extremely well."