Stand-in New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum believes the Black Caps can take some pride from the way they battled on the final day to draw the third Test against South Africa.

Set 389 to win from 81 overs against arguably the best pace attack in the world they survived a testing examination to reach 6-200 when the match was called off.

Kane Williamson led the way with an unbeaten 102 and he got useful support from Kruger van Wyk and Doug Bracewell to see the side, missing captain Ross Taylor through injury, to safety.

McCullum says while they would have liked to have won the match, the way they fought to salvage a draw after being 5-83 was heartening.

“To have seen some of the fight from our young guys and (how they) stood up to one of the best attacks … to have got away with a fighting draw is pretty satisfying,” he said.

After playing against an attack featuring Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and new sensation Vernon Philander, McCullum says they have things to work on before they travel to the Caribbean to face the West Indies in July.

“You don’t get too many bad balls against the best bowlers in the world. You have to bat a really long time on the wicket and you have to make some really good decisions along the way.

“We haven’t been able to do it throughout the series but we now know we have to go away and work on and get better as players and as a batting group.

“There was never a let-up in that bowling attack and they continued to come at you and never made it easy. I think our batting group will learn lessons from that.”