CHRISTCHURCH: Justin Greaves produced one of the finest rearguard innings in West Indies Test history, scoring an unbeaten 202 to guide his side to a remarkable draw against New Zealand in the opening Test on Saturday. Facing a monumental target of 531, the West Indies finished on 457/6, registering the second-highest fourth-innings total in Test cricket.
Greaves, who batted for nearly 10 hours across 388 deliveries, brought up his maiden double century in the penultimate over of the match. He found a steadfast ally in Kemar Roach, who scored a career-best *58 and faced 72 dot balls while on 53, helping stitch together a match-saving 180-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Their resistance came after the visitors were reduced to 72/4, with another top-order collapse threatening to derail their chase early on. However, New Zealand’s bowling resources were stretched, with pacers Matt Henry and Nathan Smith injured, leaving the attack largely in the hands of Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, both in only their second Test appearances.
Earlier in the innings, Shai Hope supported Greaves brilliantly with a fluent 140, as the pair added 196 for the fifth wicket, batting out 64 overs on a pitch offering little assistance to spin.
The West Indies resumed the final day at 212/4, with Hope and Greaves adding vital early runs before New Zealand found a breakthrough. Hope fell to a short delivery from Duffy—gloving a rising ball to a superb one-handed diving catch by Tom Latham.
Foulkes then trapped Tevin Imlach lbw for four, shifting momentum briefly back towards the hosts at 277/6. But the Greaves-Roach partnership defied the bowlers, taking the West Indies to 399/6 at tea, still 132 short of victory.
Roach survived several close calls, including two dropped catches, a missed run-out, and two overturned decisions that replays later suggested should have gone New Zealand’s way.
Among the bowlers, Jacob Duffy stood out with 3/122, following his five-wicket haul in the first innings to finish the match as New Zealand’s best performer with the ball.
The two-match series now moves to Wellington, where the second Test begins on Wednesday.
