NZ VS WI 1ST TEST

So, that concludes a proper Test match. A thoroughly enjoyable five days of Test cricket come to an end. The three-Test series starts with a draw. Join us on the 10th of this month for the second match. It begins at 10 pm GMT (the previous day). You can join us earlier for the build up. Till then, bye-bye.

West Indies skipper, Roston Chase is happy to secure their first points on the board, which he considered a good feeling despite not achieving a win. He described Justin Greaves' effort as Herculean and voiced his pride for him, noting that he has played with Greaves for years. Chase states that he was really happy for Kemar Roach, who came back strongly. He admitted that after the Tea interval, he thought they could have pushed for a win, but the batters were not keen on it. Feels very proud of the boys overall. He praises Hope for carrying great form from the Indian tour, recognizing him as a great player in ODIs and T20Is who has now shown his class in red-ball cricket. Chase believes the result will instill confidence going into the second match.

Tom Latham, the skipper of New Zealand, says it was the match that had it all, noting that his team had put themselves in a position to win before the contest went down to the final hour with all three results possible. He expressed disappointment that they were unable to secure the final wickets or capitalize on the opportunities presented. Latham acknowledged the unfortunate circumstance of two pacers going down to injury, but praised the rest of the attack for stepping up, specifically mentioning that Jacob Duffy and Zakary Foulkes never complained and bowled exceptionally well, alongside Michael Bracewell, who delivered over 50 overs. States the West Indies played incredibly well. Regarding the DRS, he emphasized the importance of having reviews remaining at the end, though recognizing it as a point of learning. Mentions that the bowlers would be resting for the next few days and that the team would look for replacements for the injured players in preparation for the next match. Latham expresses pleasure in getting runs himself and spending time at the crease, and lauds Rachin Ravindra's beautiful batting performance.

Justin Greaves wins the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD. Greaves states that being there at the end was important. He described it as a special day for both himself and the team. Tells that to come to the venue, bat all day, and achieve a positive result after losing Shai Hope was significant. Greaves mentioned they had initially been aiming for a win, but as the senior player, he followed Kemar Roach's advice. He also noted that the coaches had instructed him to stay in once he was settled, and that Rachin Ravindra's performance demonstrated the quality of the pitch, which they then used as a guide. Greaves shares that it was a good day overall and was ecstatic to be a part of history. The team's original plan was to get into the final session needing 100 runs with a few wickets in hand, and he concluded that they performed well in the end. Greaves ends by applauding Kemar Roach as legendary, saying Roach had inspired him since he joined the team, and expressed happiness that Roach was back after missing the last couple of series.

...Presentation...

Kemar Roach survived twice on 53, where an lbw and a caught behind decision were given not out, and New Zealand were out of reviews. Justin Greaves also survived a run out chance. But more than luck it was about hard work and West Indies were rewarded with a Draw. Before the final session of Day 5, West Indies pushed really hard for the win and they were in a great position but batting for more than 5 hours, it took a toll on both the batters and West Indies settled with a draw.

On a thrilling final day, the West Indies refused to surrender, turning a massive run chase into a nail-biting drama. While the heroic Shai Hope fell for 140 and Tevin Imlach followed quickly in the morning, Justin Greaves stood firm to keep the dream alive. Greaves marched on to score a brilliant 150, finding an unexpected ally in veteran Kemar Roach, who chipped in with a crucial fifty. The pair frustrated the New Zealand bowlers by surviving the entire afternoon session without losing a wicket, punishing dropped catches and brave bowling.

At the start of Day 4, New Zealand continued to bat and ended their innings at 466/8. It was effectively a declaration due to injuries to Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith, setting a daunting lead of 530. Chasing a mammoth target of 531, the West Indies crumbled after a steady start, losing four quick wickets in the post-lunch session. Jacob Duffy was the wrecking ball with a double strike, supported by Henry and Bracewell, leaving the visitors reeling. Later, a defiant 140-run partnership between centurion Shai Hope and Justin Greaves halted the collapse. Both batted the entire final session without losing a wicket, setting the stage for an exciting finish on the final day.

Day 3 turned into a nightmare for the West Indies and a dream for the Kiwis. Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra combined for a monumental partnership that crushed the visitors' spirits. Latham played with surgical precision to reach his 14th century, while Ravindra punished the bowlers after his early reprieves, blazing his way to a massive 176. The duo put on 279 runs together, rendering the West Indies attack harmless. By the time stumps were drawn, New Zealand had amassed a gigantic lead of 481 runs, leaving the West Indies hoping for a declaration rather than another day in the field.

The momentum seemed to swing wildly on Day 2. The West Indies' reply started disastrously with John Campbell falling to the very first ball he faced. Matt Henry was lethal, reducing the visitors to 10/2 before Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul showed immense grit to stabilize the innings. However, by the time Day 3 arrived, the narrative had shifted entirely in New Zealand's favor during their second innings. After a few early wobbles where Conway and Williamson fell, the West Indies' discipline evaporated, and the fielders let chances slip through their fingers, dropping Rachin Ravindra twice early in his innings.

What a game of cricket we have witnessed here at Hagley Oval! It began as a battle for survival under cloudy skies. After winning the toss, the West Indies unleashed their bowlers, capitalizing on the conditions immediately as Kemar Roach sent Devon Conway back for a duck. While Kane Williamson and Tom Latham tried to steady the ship, the West Indies bowlers, led by Justin Greaves and Ojay Shields, chipped away consistently. New Zealand suffered a middle-order collapse, sliding from a comfortable position to a precarious one. However, some late-order resistance dragged their first innings total to 231, a score that looked modest but competitive one.

Phew! What a final day it was! No one saw it would be scripted like this. But before we recap the game, an appreciation for the Kiwi bowling department as well. They were handicapped coming into the final innings. They missed Tom Blundell, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith due to different injuries. Matt Henry and Nathan Smith, who could have been so valuable on the final day, defending more than 500, couldn't help the team and Tom Latham had to rely on the available options to get a result.

Courage, determination and strength! These are the words that could perfectly describe the innings from Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach. A phenomenal marathon effort from these two. Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves walk off the field, and Roach gives way for Greaves to lead the way. Even a player like Kemar Roach knows how important Greaves's innings was. Justin Greaves 202(388), Kemar Roach 58(233). This will be remembered forever and will go down as one of the great efforts to save the match.

Floats it full and around off, Greaves stays back and defends it out. Handshakes between Justin Greaves and Tom Latham. It ends in a Draw.

Flat and turning away, outside off, Greaves taps with soft hands to point.

Pushes it full and around off, Greaves leans and blocks it out.

Short in length and on middle, Greaves tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.