Warwickshire captain Jim Troughton praised his side's efforts, both today and all season, as they came up agonisingly short in the battle for the County Championship.
A draw at Hampshire, coupled with Lancashire's eight-wicket win at Somerset, saw Troughton's men edged out by the Red Rose as the title battle went to the season's last day.
Despite a frustrating final day, Troughton took the positives from a season which exceeded all expectations.
"If you'd said at the start of the season we'd win nine games, you'd think that would be enough to win the Championship," he said.
"Congratulations to Lancashire, with ten wins they are deserving winners.
"Apart from Shivnarine (Chanderpaul) I'm the only over-30 playing today, and I think we've used about 25 players throughout the season so that gives us strength in depth for years to come."
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