West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has led a heroic rearguard to save the calypso kings from certain defeat in their first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Greaves, who headed into the match with a Test average of just 22, batted for 388 balls to finish unbeaten on 202, holding out for nearly 70 overs with tailender Kemar Roach for an unbroken 180-run stand in more than 60 overs of defiance to take the Windies to safety.
Their final total of 6/457 is the second-highest fourth innings score in Test history, behind only the infamous 654 tallied by England in their ‘Timeless Test’ against South Africa in 1939, which was only ended by the team needing to catch the boat home.
Reaching tea on the final day at 6/399, with 37-year old Roach having brought up a maiden half-century in his 86th Test, the Windies were only 132 from what would have been comfortably the highest successful run chase in Test history – breaking their own 418-run record set against Australia in 2003 – but Greaves and Roach opted to hold out for a draw rather than risk a loss.
Roach, remarkably, stonewalled for 72 balls without moving from 53 – though he had a lucky break after a thin edge off spinner Michael Bracewell was given not out by the umpire, with New Zealand having already burned their three reviews for the innings.
Helping further was an injury crisis that overwhelmed the Black Caps, with seamers Matt Henry (calf) and Nathan Smith (side) unable to bowl on the final day, while wicketkeeper Tom Blundell injured a hamstring while batting earlier in the match, with captain Tom Latham taking the gloves.
The carnage saw quick Jacob Duffy, in just his second Test, bowl a marathon 43 overs in the second innings, taking 3/122, with fellow second-gamer Zak Foulkes (33) also worked into the ground; while spinners Bracewell (1/138 off 55 overs) and Rachin Ravindra (0/69 off 21.3) toiled away to little effect.
Having been set a daunting 531 runs for victory early on Day 3 after centuries from Kiwis Rachin Ravindra (176) and Latham (145), the Windies looked dead and buried after slumping to 4/72, only for Greaves and fellow centurion Shai Hope to combine for a 196-run stand and keep the contest alive.
A Black Caps win looked on the cards again when Hope fell to a strangle down the leg side as Duffy turned to a short-ball ploy, with wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach falling shortly after for 4 to leave the Windies 6/277 with more than two sessions remaining.
However, Greaves couldn’t be removed, with his first show of aggression in hours coming in the second-last over, when he crunched Duffy over gully for four to bring up his maiden Test double-century.
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