Hope holds firm as West Indies drag New Zealand into fifth-day battle

Shai Hope scored his fourth Test hundred (Credit: Getty Images)

West Indies 167 and 212 for 4 (Hope 116*, Greaves 55*, Duffy 2-60) trail New Zealand 231 and 466 for 8 dec (Ravindra 176, Latham 145, Roach 5-78) by 319 runs.

A depleted New Zealand attack — effectively reduced to just two-and-a-half frontline bowlers — was made to toil as a defiant West Indies rearguard stretched the contest into a fifth day on an increasingly docile Hagley Oval surface.

Forced off the field on day three by an eye infection, Shai Hope returned wearing sunglasses under his helmet to compile an unbeaten 116. It followed his first-innings 56 and marked his second century in three innings, a seamless continuation of the resistance he displayed while stonewalling India for long periods in New Delhi in October.

If Hope was the fulcrum, Justin Greaves was the anchor beside him. He reined in his instincts to play a composed, almost uncharacteristically restrained hand, finishing 55 not out off 143 balls. Their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 140 frustrated New Zealand, whose bowlers laboured under the blazing Christchurch sun.

Nathan Smith remained off the field throughout the innings with a side strain, while Matt Henry left after the 35th over — later going to a nearby hospital for scans — with West Indies on 92 for 4. With resources rapidly depleting, stand-in wicketkeeper Tom Latham was left to lean heavily on part-time spinners Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell around Jacob Duffy’s pace. On a surface that only eased with the older ball, Hope and Greaves settled in admirably.

Hope started with positive intent and was periodically tested with the short ball, with Duffy setting a deep square leg, fine leg and short leg for the pull. Hope mostly swayed and ducked out of danger, and when he did play the shot, he kept it down. He reached his fourth Test century from 139 balls.

Duffy employed a similar short-ball ploy against Greaves, whose natural game is more instinctive, but Greaves followed Hope’s template of restraint. Playing close to his body, using his height to ride the bounce, and showing more enterprise only against spin, he focused on occupying the crease.

Their resolve contrasted with the top-order struggles earlier in the innings. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell were subjected to a stern new-ball examination from Will O’Rourke and Henry, repeatedly beaten on both edges. Chanderpaul’s tendency to shuffle across caused problems, and he fell for 6 off 45 balls, inside-edging a short ball to the keeper.

Campbell, dismissed an over earlier, jabbed at an away-swinger from O’Rourke with no foot movement, offering Bracewell a superb low catch at second slip. Moments before, Campbell had taken a painful blow on his boot from an inside-edge — something that may have contributed to his dismissal.

Alick Athanaze never settled and, frustrated by the lack of scoring opportunities, miscued a rushed pull off Bracewell to mid-on. Roston Chase then fell in eerily similar fashion to his first-innings dismissal, pushing at a Henry away-swinger while rooted to the crease, leaving West Indies 72 for 4.

A four-day defeat seemed imminent until Hope and Greaves dug in, carrying the fight into the final day even though overhauling the 531-run target remains a distant dream.

Earlier, New Zealand had surprised many by choosing to bat again, likely to give their injured bowlers additional rest on a placid surface. Kemar Roach picked up three of the four wickets to fall, completing figures of 5 for 78 and moving to 290 Test wickets. (ESPNcricinfo)