Worcestershire Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes praised the "tremendous effort levels" produced by his side in the drawn LV = County Championship Divsion Two clash with Hampshire at New Road.
A superb century from Michael Carberry thwarted Worcestershire's victory bid on the final day as Hampshire, who followed on 183 runs in arrears, closed on 321-5 when the two sides shook hands at 4.50pm.
But the 12 points Worcestershire accrued from the game were enough to push them level on points at the top with their opponents.
Rhodes said: "In many ways, not beating about the bush, we've missed an opportunity there. However sometimes you play as well as you are allowed to play.
"I thought Michael Carberry today in particular played an outstanding innings.
"It came off the back of a first baller in the first innings and for him to get the runs he did, and occupy the crease for a long time, made him the stand-out performer for Hampshire.
"I think the innings also of Glenn Maxwell was explosive and it was a very important partnership with Carberry to, I suppose, break the back of our bowlers at that period. It made life very difficult after that.
"But on the positives, I can't fault our lads one bit. Their effort levels were tremendous and they stuck to their task and they tried to the bitter end and I'm proud of that.
"Although we didn't get the points, I'm very proud of the way they performed."
Spinner Saeed Ajmal was unable to repeat his seven wicket haul of the first innings and went wicketless on the final day with Charlie Morris picking up three wickets.
But Ajmal has still picked up 37 wckets in his six County Championship appearances for the county in 2014.
Rhodes said: "That's cricket and it doesn't detract from the fact that he is a wonderful spin bowler.
"But credit due to the opposition as well. They played him extremely well. "We had situation down at Glamorgan as well when we were right on top and Bragg played him really, really well as well.
"You know what, that's sport isn't it. Sometimes the opposition do play well and that's what we enjoy about sport.
"It's not just a one-sided affair and every dog has its day and certainly Carberry and Maxwell played very well and sadly for Saeed it just wasn't his day today."
