SHANE WARNE paid tribute to Billy Taylor after the Hampshire seamer's career-best performance clinched a dramatic county championship win against Gloucestershire on Saturday.

Southampton-born Taylor took 6 for 45 as Hampshire began life back in the championship's first division with a thrilling 48-run win at the Rose Bowl.

The 28-year-old bettered the 5 for 73 he took for Hampshire against Essex at Chelmsford last year by adding 3 for 9 in just 16 balls on Saturday morning as Gloucestershire, who were 145 for 5 overnight, were bowled out for 203 in pursuit of the 252 they needed for victory.

Taylor, who had taken 3 for 36 before bad light ended play prematurely on Friday evening, added a further three wickets in successive overs after Chris Tremlett (1 for 43) had set the tone.

Warne, who took 3 for 56, said: "Billy bowls the right length at the Rose Bowl, he's not too fast but bowls that length that is quite tough to play.

"I'm very happy for him, he's a work horse and a quiet achiever and it's great to see him doing so well.

"There was a bit of a scare with his hamstring leading up to the game, and then he hurt his other leg, which was no drama before the game.

"He was really tight in his hamstrings, as is often the case in early season, but he came through that very well.

"His was the stand-out performance but everyone contributed at certain times.

"It's important to get off to a good start and all credit to the guys for the way they fought with the bat and ball and in the field, it was a really good effort.

"To win a game like this, where we were behind for most of the game, shows where the club has come from in the last couple of years.

"We believe we can win from any position and I'm so proud of the guys for the way they played over the four days. There's a good feel about the place."

The key to Hampshire's victory was the dismissals of openers Phil Weston and Craig Spearman, whose opening stand of 129 looked to have set up a Gloucestershire victory.

Warne knew that would be the case after the C & G Trophy defeat at Bristol last year, when Gloucestershire, after dismissing Hampshire for 155, only just edged home by three wickets, despite Weston and Spearman's 76-run opening partnership.

So Warne was still positive, even when the pair produced the game's only century stand.

He added: "Credit has to be given to Spearman and Weston, who played well, but we knew that if we stuck at it and were patient all we had to do was get the top two out - no matter what the score was.

"Even at 129 for 0 we thought, with our bowling attack and their middle order, that there was a chance - and we got the wicket and got on a roll on Friday night. I'd have loved to have kept going, we had all the momentum but I didn't mind them taking the light and going in early and stewing over their day either!"

Hampshire were behind by 24 runs after the first innings, but Warne's policy in batting first on winning the toss was justified.

"Some people didn't think it was a good decision to bat first but at the Rose Bowl you have to bat first because it's always hard to chase last.

"And I was very surprised that Gloucestershire didn't select a spinner. There were times when they could have done with one, especially on Friday when myself and Sean Ervine were going, and then myself and Tremlett.

"It's hard to go into a game without a spinner, no matter what the conditions.

"You don't just pick sides for the first innings, you've always got the second to come as well and they might have missed a trick there."

Warne and his side are now preparing for their next championship match, against Sussex at Hove, which starts on Wednesday.