Test cricket is about grit, determination and skills. It is played over five days to bring out the best and only tough players can pass the test of time. One such event happened in 2025 which was the highlight of the year. Not many gave West Indies a chance to draw against New Zealand before the series. But in the first Test they did something remarkable. They were so close to chasing down a record score in the Final innings of a Test.
Even though they did not go for the win, a draw itself would have been as big as win considering their situation. West Indies had been bowled out for just 167 in their first innings and were set an imposing target of 553 which was113 more than the highest successful Test chase after New Zealand declared on 466-8, but valiantly stood firm for the best part of two days.
West Indies lost four wickets quickly on Day 4. Coming in with his side 72-4 on day four, Greaves combined with Shai Hope for a 196-run fifth-wicket stand off 384 deliveries. Shai Hope who was batting with eye infection standing tall. West Indies resumed the final day at 212-4 with a confident Hope and Greaves adding 23 in six overs of spin before blunting the new-ball attack for more than 12 overs, before a short ball from Duffy outside the leg stump tempted Hope to hook but the ball climbed, grazed the glove and a diving Tom Latham took a stunning one-handed catch to complete the dismissal. Hope was dismissed for 140.
Tevin Imlach came and went quickly, lbw to Foulkes for four, and New Zealand felt the initiative had swung their way again with the West Indies 277-6. With more than 2 sessions left on the final day, it looked like West Indies would be bowled out anytime.
But Greaves and Roach had other plans. But when Roach joined Greaves the pendulum swung back the other way as West Indies reached 399-6 at tea, needing a further 132 with four wickets remaining if they were to achieve a historic victory in the final session. Luck was with Roach, who survived multiple times.
He was dropped on 30 and 47 and survived a run-out when the throw went wide of the stumps. Kemar Roach who was labelled a modern-day legend by his captain, scored his maiden Test half-century and crucially withstood 233 deliveries as they negotiated the remainder of the day. He had earlier taken a five-wicket haul in New Zealand’s second innings.
Justin Greaves scored a Test career-high 202 not out as West Indies made the second-highest fourth-innings total in history to earn a draw with New Zealand in the series opener in Christchurch.
Greaves faced 388 balls and batted for 564 minutes for his second Test century and compiled a resilient 180-run seventh-wicket stand with Kemar Roach, who posted a career-high 58, before New Zealand captain Tom Latham shook hands with West Indies 457-6. This draw was one of the best moments in Cricket this year and this went viral on social media with plenty of praises.
