Hope leads the way as WI chase 531 to win first Test

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (CMC):

A fighting, unbeaten century from Shai Hope, coupled with Justin Greaves’ stellar half-century, has put West Indies in position to push for an unlikely but possible victory against New Zealand heading into Friday’s fifth and final day of the opening Test.

Hope, who finished the day on 116 not out, along with Greaves, who is unbeaten on 55, have so far added 140 runs for the fifth wicket to guide West Indies to 212 for four, still a mammoth 319 runs away from their target of 531.

The pair rescued their side from the perilous position of 72 for four, with New Zealand seemingly in position to wrap up the match on the fourth day.

However, stellar batting from the two Barbadians kept the home side in the field for the majority of the day, while giving them hope of pulling off what would be the highest successful run chase in Test cricket history.

The Windies currently hold that record, having scored 418 for seven to defeat Australia over 22 years ago.

New Zealand will still be favourites to win the contest, despite being two bowlers short with Matt Henry only able to bowl 11 overs before pulling up with a calf injury, while Nathan Smith, who is suffering from a side strain, has yet to bowl in the second innings.

After the home side declared on 466 for eight in the morning session leaving the Windies with a record run chase, openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul carried them to 20 without loss at the luncheon interval.

On resumption, though, things fell apart when first innings hero Jacob Duffy had Campbell caught low down at second slip by Michael Bracewell for the addition of only four runs.

Duffy struck again in his next over when he had Chanderpaul caught behind for six to leave the visitors 25 for two.

Alick Athanaze only scored five before he toe-ended his attempted pull shot off spinner Michael Bracewell straight to mid on, and when captain Roston Chase feathered a catch behind to wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Henry’s bowling, West Indies were in danger of being bowled out at 72 for four.

However, Hope and Greaves came together to rescue their side and push the match into a fifth day.

Hope, batting in sunglasses for the second time in the match because of an eye infection, was his usual aggressive self, hitting Bracewell for two sublime boundaries to move to 49 off 69 balls.

He reached his second half-century of the match two overs later by pulling Bracewell to mid on for a single.

They carried the score to 107 for four at tea and, on resumption, they nullified New Zealand’s bowling attack with solid defensive play mixed with occasional aggression.

Hope smashed Duffy for three boundaries to move into the 90s, with another four off Bracewell carrying him to 98.

He subsequently brought up his fourth Test century off 139 balls by driving spinner Rachin Ravindra through cover for a single.

Second Test half-century

Greaves was the more defensive of the two but, when Duffy continually peppered him with short deliveries, he rocked back and pulled him through midwicket with disdain to reach his second Test half-century off 123 balls.

The two finished the day with little alarm, but will know they will have to bat for a large portion of Friday’s final day if the Windies are to avoid a heavy defeat.

Earlier, veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach picked up three of the four New Zealand wickets to fall before the declaration, to capture his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests.

The 37-year-old had both Bracewell and Henry caught behind by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach for 24 and eight, respectively, and then held on to a return catch from Duffy on the second attempt, to move within nine wickets of 300 Test scalps.

Roach claimed 5-78 to finish with match figures of 7-125, while Ojay Shields took 2-74.