Christchurch, Dec 6 (NationPress) West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves declared it a “remarkably special day” after he saved his team with an unbroken score of 202, leading to a draw against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval.

Greaves and Kemar Roach forged a remarkable partnership, adding 180 runs for the seventh wicket, after New Zealand set a daunting total of 531. The West Indies batted for an impressive 163.3 overs, with Greaves making 202 not out from 388 deliveries and Roach contributing 58 not out off 233.

Only England's 654 for 5 in the historic Test match against South Africa in Durban in 1939 surpasses their 457 for 6, which stands as the second-highest total in Test cricket's fourth innings.

“It was all about resilience — a term we’ve emphasized in the dressing room,” Greaves shared. “Being there at the end was crucial for me. Ultimately, it’s about the team.”

“I had a lengthy discussion with coach Floyd Reifer. He advised that once you settle in, you should stay put; the pitch was favorable. Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham showed us in the second innings how to approach it. We needed to just express ourselves.”

With a career-high score of 202 not out, Greaves led the Windies and briefly put them in contention to chase down the formidable target of 531. The Barbados right-hander is now among the seven players in Test history to score a double century in the fourth innings of a match.

Pace bowler Roach (58*), who also achieved his personal best in 86 Test matches, provided essential support. On Day 5, he faced 233 balls on a flat Christchurch pitch during an exhausting 282-minute performance.

“What a special day for me; a special day for the team,” Greaves expressed. “We faced a lot of challenges. After losing Shai Hope, we thought a win was within reach. But Kemar, our senior player, guided me through it. I’m grateful he was there at the end.”

“Being part of history feels incredible. However, I take it one day at a time and will continue to relish it. I’m sure it hasn’t completely sunk in yet. I hope it does over the next few days.”

At one point, the West Indies were struggling at 72 for 4, but Greaves and Hope, who scored 140, turned the situation around. They were at 277 for 6 when Hope and Tevin Imlach lost their wickets quickly, but a victory was still possible as they entered the final session needing 132 runs in at least 33 overs. Ultimately, they opted against chasing.

“For us, it was crucial to reach the last session,” Greaves reflected. “We always discussed aiming for 100 runs in the last session, ideally with a few wickets remaining. Losing Shai and then Imlach shortly after was significant. Nonetheless, we managed well to secure the draw.”