Justin Greaves saviours 'special day' after batting West Indies to epic draw

Greaves batted out the entire fifth day to unbeaten 202 as the Windies ended on 457-6 after New Zealand had set the visitors an improbable target of 531 at the Hagley Oval.

Shai Hope also struck 140 while Kemar Roach provided good support with a career-best 58 not out, but importantly soaked up off 233 deliveries.

Greaves said after his match-saving knock: "(It was) just pretty much being resilient - the word we've thrown around in the dressing room a lot.

"So for me, to be there at the end was really important. So anything for the team at the end of the day.

"I had a really long chat with coach Floyd Reifer. And he was saying once you get in, stay in; it's a good pitch. Rachin (Ravindra) and (Tom) Latham showed us in the second innings. So it was just for us to go out there and play ourselves."

The allrounder became only the seventh player in Test history to a double-hundred in the fourth innings.

The West Indies will now take plenty of confidence heading into the second Test of the three-match series that starts in Wellington on Wednesday.

Greaves added: "Special, special day for me; special day for the team. "We were pretty much up against it. So, to come out here, batting the whole day after losing Shai (Hope).

"We thought we would have probably pushed for a win. But then Kemar, the senior pro, guided me all the way. So pretty much happy for him being there at the end as well.

"To be a part of history is ecstatic. But for me, one day at a time, continue to enjoy it. Probably it hasn't sunk in just yet. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, it can."

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