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]Justin Greaves Double Ton Powers West Indies to Historic Draw in 1st Test vs New Zealand
by K D Mishra
The West Indies, who were in a very tough position, batted with great fight on the final day to draw the first Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval. They were chasing a huge target of 531, but instead they saved the match with a strong batting effort. West Indies ended on 457 for 6, led by an unbeaten double century from Justin Greaves and a solid fifty from Kemar Roach. This is how the match ended in Christchurch.
New Zealand controlled the first four days of the match. They were bowled out for 231 in the first innings after Jacob Duffy took five wickets, but they still stayed in front. In the second innings, a big stand of 279 between Tom Latham (145) and Rachin Ravindra (176) helped them reach 466 for 8 before declaring. This gave West Indies a huge target of 531. West Indies had made only 167 in their first innings, so they needed something special just to avoid defeat.
The last day's play was still very much up for grabs. At the close of play, West Indies were on 212/4, needing to score a further 319 runs to win; however, their primary objective at that point was survival - they would need to bat for a minimum of 98 overs in order to draw the match.
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West Indies had a good start with Shai Hope and Justin Greaves both batting well. Shai Hope made a magnificent 140, but once he was dismissed for 268, it opened the door for New Zealand to take control of the match.
Tevin Imlach was dismissed shortly after, leaving West Indies on 277/6 with over 60 overs available to them. It became apparent that their chances of winning were non-existent, and they were very close to losing.
This was when Justin Greaves stepped up to take charge of proceedings. He batted alongside tailender Kemar Roach, and Greaves fundamentally changed his approach to batting. He was composed and hit good shots, was aggressive on anything wide or short, and remained composed at the wicket.
As the match progressed through the course of the day, he accumulated runs, reaching his maiden hundred - he ended the day unbeaten on 202 from 388 balls - to be the main contributor to West Indies' ability to salvage a draw from the match.
At the other end, Kemar Roach, who is known for his fast bowling, showed great fight with the bat. He batted with a straight bat, waited for the loose balls, and did not make any mistake. He stayed at the crease for 233 balls and made a very important 58*. His stand with Greaves was worth 180 runs, but the real impact was the 410 balls they faced together, which tired the New Zealand bowlers and reduced their chances of winning.
As the last session went on, the match slowly moved away from New Zealand. After Greaves reached his 200, both teams agreed to end the match with only a few overs left. West Indies finished at 457 for 6.
Greaves had a double century, Roach had a brave fifty, and West Indies earned one of their most memorable draws, a result that helps lift the confidence of a team that has struggled in all formats in recent years.
