West Indies middle order batsman was full of praise for Alzarri Joseph following their 15-run seventh wicket partnership against New Zealand albeit in a losing cause on Saturday.

The pair came together on Friday with the West Indies in dire straits at 89 for 6 and staring down the barrel of a swift and savage defeat.

However, the two set about to resist the much-vaunted New Zealand bowling attack to take the match into a fourth day. Joseph scored a career best 86 before he was the eighth wicket to fall as the West Indies plummeted to defeat.

Blackwood, who scored his second Test hundred during the partnership, said he and the Antiguan fast bowler agreed to try and stretch the game as much as they could.

“When Alzarri came to the crease I just told him to play his natural game and that I would try to bat as long as possible," Blackwood said.

"We agreed to stay here with each other. I hit two balls in the air and then I told myself that I need to stay here with Alzarri and bat.

“He takes pride in his batting, as well as his fielding. It’s good to see him come out and bat the way he did. I’m pretty proud of myself as well the way I went about things today. A mixture of aggressiveness and then try to get a good selection (of shots) as much as possible.”

West Indies will be hoping for Joseph to be better with the ball and at least as good with the bat when the second Test begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Thursday, October 10.