West Indies pulled off one of the greatest fourth-innings rearguards in their modern Test history, securing a dramatic draw in Christchurch thanks to Justin Greaves’ monumental 202* off 388 balls and Kemar Roach’s heroic 58* off 233 deliveries.
Resuming the final day deep in trouble, West Indies slipped to 277 for 6 in pursuit of 531, but Greaves and Roach batted with extraordinary discipline to deny New Zealand across 163.3 overs, the Windies’ longest fourth-innings effort in 95 years. Greaves, who had earlier anchored a 196-run stand with Shai Hope (140), transformed his fluent start into a marathon of grit, absorbing blows, battling cramps, and shutting down every scoring instinct to protect the match.
Roach, playing his comeback Test at 37, produced the innings of his life. His 58*, the highest score of his first-class career, was a masterclass in survival, including an astonishing stretch of 5 runs off his last 104 balls. New Zealand burned their reviews, dropped chances, and pushed their two exhausted pacers to the limit, but still couldn’t break the pair.
New Zealand had earlier dominated through Rachin Ravindra (176), Tom Latham (145), and a five-wicket haul from Roach in the first innings. But as the pitch flattened and fatigue set in, the West Indies’ resolve proved unshakeable. Even when Hope and Imlach fell in quick succession, Greaves refused to budge, raising his maiden Test double hundred in the penultimate over with a sliced boundary over point.
When the final ball was dead-batted, West Indies had completed a legendary escape, one built on patience, courage, and the old-school magic that only Test cricket can produce.
