Hope and Greaves lead West Indies’ defiance with the bat as they play out almost close to 6 hours on day 4.
Hope and Greaves hold firm as West Indies drag New Zealand into fifth-day battle.
Short on reliable bowling options and effectively operating with only two full-time strike bowlers, New Zealand struggled to break through as the West Indies’ determined lower order dragged the match into a fifth day on a pitch at Hagley Oval that had grown increasingly unresponsive.
After missing part of the third day with an eye ailment, Shai Hope resumed his innings wearing protective shades and went on to finish unbeaten on 116. That knock, added to his first-innings half-century, gave him two hundreds in his last three outings and continued the stubborn resistance he had earlier displayed during lengthy defiance against India in New Delhi last October.
While Hope provided the momentum, Justin Greaves supplied the stability at the other end. Shelving his natural attacking tendencies, he settled into a patient, disciplined innings, remaining unbeaten on 55 after facing 143 deliveries. Together, the pair combined for an unbroken 140-run stand for the fifth wicket, forcing New Zealand’s weary bowlers to grind away relentlessly in the intense Christchurch heat.
Nathan Smith was unable to take part in the batting and remained sidelined throughout the innings with a strained side. New Zealand’s hopes of wrapping things up swiftly may have risen when Matt Henry exited after 35 overs — later heading to the nearby hospital for medical scans — with West Indies struggling at 92 for 4.
However, as the home side’s bowling options continued to dwindle, stand-in wicketkeeper Tom Latham — already filling in after Tom Blundell was ruled out of this and the following Test with a torn hamstring — had little choice but to rely heavily on the occasional spin of Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell alongside seamer Jacob Duffy. On a pitch that grew more batter-friendly with the aging ball, Hope and Greaves dug in with impressive discipline and composure.
After starting his innings with confidence, Hope was repeatedly challenged with bouncers, with Duffy deploying an aggressive leg-side trap that included a deep square leg, a short leg, and a fine leg positioned for the pull shot. For the most part, Hope evaded the danger with well-timed evasive movement, either swaying away or dropping under the ball. On the few occasions he chose to attack, he expertly controlled the shot to keep it along the ground. His latest Test hundred — the fourth of his career — came up after 139 balls.
Greaves was subjected to much the same tactic, despite being a naturally freer-scoring player. Yet he showed admirable discipline by mirroring Hope’s measured approach. He trusted his defense, playing late and only to balls that rose into his body, using his reach to manage the bounce and push the ball safely away. Though he showed more freedom against spin, the backbone of his innings was built on time spent at the crease rather than flair.
What had looked like a likely four-day finish was delayed when Greaves and Hope stood firm, offering West Indies a lifeline as New Zealand’s weary bowlers searched in vain for an opening. That breakthrough never arrived, and the visitors carried their resistance into the final day, even though chasing down the towering target of 531 remains an almost impossible task.
Earlier, New Zealand raised eyebrows by opting to extend their second innings. The decision may have been influenced by a desire to ease the workload on an injury-hit bowling unit on an unresponsive pitch. Kemar Roach was the standout with the ball, claiming three of the four wickets to fall and ending with 5 for 78 — a haul that lifted his career tally to 290 wickets.