Hope, Greaves Marathon Effort Helps West Indies Secure a Famous Draw Against New Zealand

The first test between New Zealand and West Indies ended in a draw, as the marathon effort from Justin Greaves and Shai Hope helped the visitors to save the match. The superlative double hundred of Justin Greaves in the second innings was simply exceptional, as he stood firm at the crease to deny the Kiwis a victory at Christchurch.

In the second innings, New Zealand piled up 466 runs on the board, giving West Indies a huge target of 531 to win the match. The visitors came out to bat with a clear approach, knowing that saving the test match was their only realistic option. Interestingly, New Zealand once again made early breakthroughs by removing the top order of the West Indies team. But after that, the real fightback came from Shai Hope and Justin Greaves, who produced stunning centuries to shock New Zealand on their home turf.

After scoring fifty in the first innings, Shai Hope smashed a gritty hundred in the second innings to steady the batting of the Caribbean team. His knock of 140 runs was simply outstanding, as he stood firm on one end to absorb the pressure exerted by the Kiwis.

Justin Greaves Batting Marathon Stole the Show

When Justin Greaves came out to bat, West Indies were already struggling at 72 for 4. The youngster produced one of the best knocks of his career to help save the match for his team. He batted smartly alongside the experienced Shai Hope, denying New Zealand any further breakthroughs. The youngster batted with full command and confidence throughout his innings, highlighting why he is considered a rising sensation for the West Indies.

By standing firm on one end, Justin Greaves scored a magnificent double hundred that made him the star of the 1st test at Christchurch. He smashed unbeaten 202 runs on 388 balls, giving West Indies a famous draw against New Zealand in the three-match test series.

Meanwhile, the effort of Kemar Roach on the last day of the test match also needs great applause. As a tail-ender, he played an innings that surprised the New Zealand team. He scored 58* runs on the fifth day of the Christchurch test, giving Greaves a strong support from the other end. Due to his solidity at one end, New Zealand failed to find breakthroughs in the last session of the game.

As a result, West Indies secured a famous draw against New Zealand at Christchurch, a feat that once seemed a distant possibility. They will now head to Wellington to play the second test, knowing they have the capability to challenge the Kiwis at any stage of the game.