CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has hailed his team’s astonishing final-day defiance after they carved out a memorable draw in the opening Test against New Zealand on Friday.
Faced with a towering target of 531, the Caribbean side mounted a record-setting response, amassing 457 for six, the highest fourth-innings total in 84 years, before both captains agreed to close the contest.
The heroics came from across the order: Justin Greaves fashioned a magnificent, unbeaten 202, Shai Hope contributed a commanding 140, and Kemar Roach added a crucial, unbeaten 58, ensuring the West Indies secured their first drawn Test in New Zealand since 2013.
“It wasn’t something ordinary”
Addressing reporters afterward, Chase praised the poise and commitment that carried his side through some of the most demanding sessions of their tour.
“I wouldn’t say that it feels like a win, but the guys are proud and the boys are quite happy, especially with the effort that it took to do it,” he said. “It wasn’t something ordinary.
“It was very special for three of the guys to really stand up and put their hands up in a time of need under tremendous pressure, so the guys are really proud and looking forward to a bit of a celebration.”
Weighing the chase against the clock
At the start of the final session, the West Indies were 132 runs away from victory, with Greaves and Roach well-set and New Zealand growing increasingly anxious.
Chase admitted that his team briefly assessed the feasibility of pushing for a historic win.
“Going back out at tea the guys wanted to see if they could push for the runs, but it didn’t quite work out the way they wanted,” he explained.
“When the last hour came and they came off at the water break, we had a discussion and they said they would just play it out and we didn’t think it was a bad idea at that time, so we were happy for them to just try and play it out and that’s what they did.”
Greaves, Hope, and Roach: The anchors of the escape
The captain reserved special admiration for the partnerships that defined the Test.
Hope and Greaves combined for a superb 196-run stand for the fifth wicket, steering the side out of early danger. Greaves then joined forces with Roach to construct an unbroken 180-run partnership, a defiant seventh-wicket vigil that ensured the draw.
“I actually thought it [a double hundred] was going to be from Shai Hope; he looked as if he wasn’t going to be out at any point, but it came from Justin Greaves,” Chase remarked. “I’m happy for him, his first double hundred, but to get it in these conditions away from home, I think that’s a superb effort.”
The skipper was just as effusive about Roach’s contribution, both symbolic and statistical.
“As for Kemar, it just shows you his character, being out of the team for the last couple of series, coming back in and on his first chance given he shows his class with ball and with bat,” Chase said. “It just goes to show you the quality of the cricketer he is and for me he is a modern-day legend.
“I mean he’s close to 300 wickets, he hasn’t gotten there yet, but in my eyes, he is a modern-day legend for the West Indies.”
