West Indies made a surprising and historic comeback against New Zealand in the first Test, finishing with a hard-earned draw on Day 5 in Christchurch.
New Zealand’s bowling attack, missing two key seamers, struggled to maintain pressure after getting Shai Hope out early in the morning. They briefly gained momentum by breaking a strong partnership, but the visitors quickly regrouped.
The day belonged to Justin Greaves, whose impressive double century anchored West Indies’ defense. He received crucial support from Kemar Roach, who scored his first Test fifty and batted with great determination. Together, they frustrated New Zealand through the final two sessions, helping West Indies reach 450/6 by the end of the day.
New Zealand saw a chance early when they took two wickets in three overs, but Greaves and Roach stayed calm under pressure. They batted with discipline and confidence, preventing the home side from finding any more openings. Their partnership ensured West Indies finished with a memorable draw after five exciting days of cricket.
Day 5 Highlights
West Indies started the final day with confidence as the settled pair of Shai Hope and Justin Greaves continued the momentum they built on Day 4. Both batters played positively from the beginning, rotating the strike and finding boundaries, even with New Zealand having limited bowling options. The hosts began with spin, but neither bowler could apply sustained pressure as Greaves and Hope kept the scoreboard moving.
The breakthrough came from Jacob Duffy, New Zealand’s best bowler in the match, who dismissed Hope in the 93rd over. A mistimed pull shot resulted in a sharp catch by Tom Latham, giving the hosts a much-needed wicket. West Indies faced another setback when Tevin Imlach, the next batter, fell lbw to Zakary Foulkes after a brief stay, shifting the momentum slightly back to New Zealand.
With West Indies down to one recognized batter, the hosts seemed to be favorites at that point. However, Justin Greaves stayed strong, showing remarkable composure and discipline. He found a determined partner in Kemar Roach, who gained confidence as his innings progressed. The pair blunted the attack during long spells, frustrating the Kiwis as the second session drifted away.
Greaves reached his 100 with a series of controlled strokes while Roach contributed crucial runs at the other end. Their partnership continued to grow, and Roach achieved his maiden Test fifty in the 128th over, capping off an outstanding all-around performance for the veteran seamer.
As the overs went down, Greaves remained steady and eventually reached his maiden Test double century—an innings marked by immense patience, control, and resilience. His performance ensured that West Indies secured a draw that had seemed unlikely at the end of Day 4, completing one of the team’s most memorable comebacks in recent years.
The second Test of the series begins on 10 December, and the thrilling finish in Christchurch has left the series wide open.
Brief Scores – 1st Test: New Zealand vs West Indies (Dec 2‑6, 2025)
- NZ 1st Inn: 231 (Williamson 52, Bracewell 47; WI: Shields 2/34, Greaves 2/35)
- WI 1st Inn: 167 (Hope 56, Chanderpaul 52; NZ: Duffy 5/34, Henry 3/43)
- NZ 2nd Inn: 466/8 dec (Ravindra 176, Latham 145; WI: Roach 5/78, Shields 2/74)
- WI 2nd Inn (End of Day 5): 457/6 (Greaves 202*, Hope 140; NZ: Duffy 3/122, Henry 1/29)
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