Justin Greaves double ton helps West Indies secure improbable draw in 1st Test vs New Zealand in Christchurch

Justin Greaves scored an unbeaten double ton as West Indies frustrated New Zealand on Day 5 of the first Test in Christchurch to pull off a remarkable draw. Greaves combined with no.8 Kemar Roach to share an unbroken stand of 180 runs for the 7th wicket in West Indies' second innings to help the visitors secure an improbable draw.

Asked to chase 530 or survive two days in their second innings, West Indies seemed all but out of the contest, with the Test match expected to get over in less than five days. However, the visitors produced an exceptional display with the bat, showcasing patience and perseverance to pull off an unlikely draw by ending their innings on 457/6 at stumps on the final day.

Greaves played a defying knock, notching up a brilliant 202 not out of a staggering 388 deliveries to lead West Indies' resistance in their second innings. The middle order batter combined with Roach, who remained unbeaten on 58 after playing an impressive 233 deliveries, to share a match-saving 180-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Greaves and Roach played a staggering 409 balls between them during their partnership and remained unbeaten as West Indies played out 163.3 overs in their second innings to draw the Test match. Shai Hope too played his part in the draw with his gritty knock of 140 runs off 234 deliveries in the visitors' second innings.

West Indies were bowled out for a paltry 167 runs in their first innings, in response to New Zealand's first-innings total of 231 runs to concede a lead of 64 runs. The Kiwis capitalised well and rode on centuries from skipper Tom Latham (145) and Rachin Ravindra (176) to post 466/8 on the board in their second innings to set an imposing target of 531 runs for the visitors in their second innings.

How resilient West Indies pulled off unlikely draw in Christchurch

West Indies got off to a poor start in their second innings as they lost openers John Campbell (15) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (6) cheaply inside 25 runs. A defeat looked inevitable, but Hope held one end strongly as wickets continued to fall from the other.

Greaves joined Hopes in the middle with his side at 72/4 on Day 4. The duo combined to share a 196-run stand for the fifth wicket and played 384 deliveries between them to keep the visitors afloat. Hope was dismissed on 140, and wicket-keeper batter Tevin Imlach also departed in quick succession on Day 5.

However, Greaves and Roach then joined hands to share a resilient 180-run stand for the seventh wicket and save the Test match for West Indies. While Greaves slammed his career-best unbeaten 202, Roach too notched up his highest Test score of unbeaten 58 to guide West Indies to 457/6 before New Zealand skipper Latham decided to shake hands on Day 5.

The duo's efforts helped West Indies post the highest fourth-innings total in a time-bound innings. The 163.3 overs played by the West Indies batter in their second innings is the longest the visitors have batted in the fourth innings of a Test match since 1930.