West Indies and Jamaica batsman Jermaine Blackwood has revealed that managing pressure was key to scoring just the second Test century of his career, despite the team’s heavy loss to New Zealand in the first Test.

The 29-year-old middle order batsman was one of the few bright spots as the team capitulated to an innings and 134-run defeat, against New Zealand in Hamilton.  To his credit, Blackwood partnered with Alzzari Joseph, who scored 86, to stave off the inevitable with a lower order partnership worth 155 runs.  Blackwood contributed the lion share with 104.

The knock was particularly pleasing for batsman because he has twice been dismissed in the 90s.  Most recently, against England, after a splendid innings in the first Test he was agonisingly dismissed on 95.  Blackwood was determined not to make the same mistake again.

“I felt less pressure batting this time around.  When I was batting in the 90s, I was more confident and I told myself I can get the job done,” Blackwood said following the game.

“To be able to score a hundred for me and the team is a good feeling,” he added.

“When Alzarri came to bat, I played two rash strokes and I was like, ‘No!’,” he said.

“I gave it some thought, and I said to Alzarri, ‘I am going to bat with you’, and he said, ‘Dads, I am going to stay with you.”

Blackwood only previous Test century came against England in 2015.