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 with 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 extension of the defiance he showed 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 to finish 55 not out off 143 balls. His unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Hope was worth 140 as New Zealand's attack toiled under the blazing Christchurch sun.Nathan Smith did not come out to bat and spent the entire innings off the field with a side strain.

When Matt Henry left the field after the 35th over - later heading to hospital next door for scans - with West Indies 92 for 4, New Zealand may have hoped to finish off the game quickly. But with his bowling resources rapidly thinning, Tom Latham - already standing in with the gloves due to Tom Blundell's torn hamstring that ruled him out of not just this Test but the next - was left to lean heavily on Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell's part-time spin around pacer Jacob Duffy.

On a surface that only got easier to bat on against the old ball, Hope and Greaves settled in and applied themselves admirably.  Having begun with positive intent, Hope was tested periodically with the short ball, Duffy setting a square leg halfway to the rope along with a short leg and fine leg for the pull. Hope mostly swayed and ducked out of harm's way, and on the rare occasions he was tempted into the shot, he did well to keep it down. He brought up his fourth Test century off 139 deliveries. Duffy employed a similar plan to Greaves, whose natural game is far more instinctive.

But to his credit, Greaves appeared to take a cue from Hope, choosing restraint instead. He played only when the ball was at his body, using his height to ride the bounce and fend safely. While he was a lot more enterprising against spin, the fundamental of his knock was crease occupation.Hope and Greaves laid down the template for those who perished prior to their arrival. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell were put through a stern new ball test by Foulkes and Henry as they repeatedly tested both their edges in an engaging first spell.

Chanderpaul's propensity to shuffle across got him into trouble more often than not, and was out to a short ball that he inside-edged to the keeper for 6 off 45 balls. Campbell - out an over earlier - was taken out by Foulkes as he jabbed at an away-swinger with no feet movement as Bracewell took a superb low catch at second slip. In the overs prior to his dismissal, Campbell wore a blow on his boot as he smashed one back off an inside-edge, making him groan in discomfort. This may have eventually had a hand in his dismissal. 

Alick Athanaze never got going, and the frustration of being unable to score had him attempt a pull, only to be rushed into the stroke by Bracewell. He only managed to toe-end a pull to mid-on. And when Roston Chase fell in eerily similar fashion to his dismissal in the first innings - nibbling at a Henry away-swinger while being rooted to the crease - West Indies were collapsing swiftly and were 72 for 4.  A four-day defeat loomed until Greaves and Hope dug in to give West Indies some hope even as New Zealand's tired attack wheeled away in the hope of a mistake.

That wasn't to come, as West Indies took the fight into the final day even though hopes of scaling down the 531-run target they were set seem just a pipe dream for now. Earlier in the morning, New Zealand surprised many by choosing to bat on. Perhaps this was to give their bowlers more rest on a placid surface, considering the slew of injuries. Kemar Roach picked up three of the four wickets to fall, finishing with figures of 5 for 78 to take his wickets tally to 290.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)