Justin Greaves produced a nine-and-a-half-hour batting masterclass as his maiden Check double hundred secured an unlikely draw for West Indies in opposition to New Zealand.
The 31-year-old’s unbeaten 202 was the bedrock of West Indies’ 457-6, the second-highest fourth-innings complete in Check match historical past, in pursuit of an inconceivable victory goal of 531 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
Greaves’ technique was extra metronome than fireworks and whereas it got here in opposition to a New Zealand assault depleted by mid-match accidents to seamers Nathan Smith and Matt Henry, his 388-ball vigil compelled a draw and earned his crew their first factors within the new World Check Championship cycle.
Greaves cast a 196-run stand with Shai Hope (140) after which raised 180 with Kemar Roach (58) for the unbroken seventh wicket for a pride-restoring draw that felt nearly as good as a win.
“Special day for me, special day for the team,” Greaves mentioned.
“We were pretty much up against it. So, to come out here, bat a whole day… a really, really special day for us as a group.”
West Indies didn’t push for an unlikely victory within the last session and Greaves felt he and his crew displayed sufficient resilience with their second-innings batting.
“It’s a word that we’ve thrown around in the dressing room a lot. So for me to be there at the end was really important. Anything for the team at the end of the day,” he mentioned.
West Indies skipper Roston Chase saluted Greaves and Roach for the spectacular rearguard motion.
“Obviously, a Herculean effort by Justin Greaves, proud of him,” Chase mentioned.
“He’s someone that I grew up playing cricket with, so I’m very proud for this moment, for him, and obviously Kemar Roach…he’s a modern-day legend. I’m happy for these guys, and happy that we could achieve what we did.”
New Zealand captain Tom Latham rued falling in need of victory however discovered solace in being a part of a memorable sport.
“It was a Test match that had it all,” he mentioned.
“For it to head down to the final hour with all three results on the cards – it was a great Test match to be involved in.”
The second Check of the collection will get underneath approach in Wellington subsequent week.
