In a display of sheer resilience and defensive mastery, the West Indies cricket team pulled off one of the great escapes in modern Test history, batting through the final day to secure a dramatic draw against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
A Marathon Stonewall for the Ages
Facing a mammoth and seemingly impossible target of 531 runs in their fourth innings, the visitors were not chasing victory but fighting for survival. Their mission was to bat out time, and they did so with monumental patience. The West Indies batted for a staggering 163.3 overs, spending 694 minutes at the crease to finish at 457 for 7 when stumps were drawn. This monumental effort denied New Zealand a victory in the first match of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
The Unlikely Heroes: Greaves and Roach Stand Tall
The cornerstone of this epic rearguard was a record-breaking and utterly defiant eighth-wicket partnership between Justin Greaves and veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach. Their union absorbed 400 deliveries and broke the spirit of the New Zealand attack on the final day.
Justin Greaves was the rock, remaining unbeaten on a magnificent double century. His marathon knock not only saved the game but also entered the record books. He became only the fourth West Indian and seventh batter overall to score a double century in a Test match's fourth innings. Remarkably, his is the only unbeaten fourth-innings double hundred in a drawn Test.
At the other end, Kemar Roach, primarily known for his bowling, played the innings of his life. The 37-year-old converted his maiden Test fifty into a monumental act of defiance, scoring 58 not out off 233 balls. In doing so, he became the first tail-ender (No. 8-11) to face over 200 balls in the fourth innings to save a Test, surpassing England's Matt Prior (182 balls in 2013).
Context and Key Records from Christchurch
The draw was set up after New Zealand, having secured a 64-run first-innings lead, declared their second innings at 466 for 8, powered by centuries from captain Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra. The West Indies' response, led initially by a classy century from Shai Hope, culminated in the historic stand.
The statistics from this match underscore the scale of the West Indies' achievement:
- Highest 4th Innings Total in a 5-Day Test: Their score of 457/7 is the highest fourth-innings total ever in a five-day Test match.
- Second-Longest 4th Innings to Save a Test This Century: Their 163.3 overs faced is the second-longest such effort since 2001, behind only Pakistan's 171.4 overs against Australia in Karachi (2022).
The result leaves the two-match series poised at 0-0, with the West Indies taking immense confidence and New Zealand left to rue a missed opportunity despite dominating large parts of the game in Christchurch.
