5 incredible records broken by West Indies’ 457 for 6 in NZ vs WI 2025 1st Test ft. Justin Greaves 

West Indies scripted history with their stellar fourth innings effort to salvage a draw in the first Test against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. After being handed an astronomical target of 531, the Men in Maroon batted for almost two days to avoid a defeat and record their first set of points in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Being reduced to 72-4 during the run chase, Shai Hope steadied the ship with a defiant hundred. On the final day, Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach stole the show with their defiant stand after New Zealand tried to make a comeback with a couple of wickets.

On that note, let us take a look at five incredible records broken by West Indies’ 457 for 6 in NZ vs WI 2025 1st Test.

#1 Highest fourth innings score in five-day Test history

West Indies, with their heroics, managed to breach the record for the highest fourth innings score in Test history, as far as five-day matches are concerned. They went past New Zealand's record of 451, which they had achieved during a Test against England in Christchurch while chasing a 550-run target.

As far as overall Tests are concerned, which includes the six-day affairs as well, West Indies' 457-6 is the second-highest on the list. The top spot remains with England, who scored 654-5 against South Africa in Durban in 1939.

This also marks just the third time that the West Indies have registered more than 400 runs in the fourth innings of a Test, and the first since their historic run chase against Australia at St John's.

#2 Highest score by a No.6 batter in the fourth innings

Justin Greaves became the first batter to record a double century while batting at No.6 in the fourth innings. As a result, he now holds the record for the highest individual score in that regard.

The all-rounder breezed past the previous score of 155, made by Ben Stokes. The England skipper had claimed the record for himself with his heroics at the Lord's during the 2023 Ashes series against Australia.

They are the only two batters to score over 150 while batting at No.6 in the fourth innings of a Test.

#3 Second most overs batted out by West Indies in fourth innings

It is not a common instance for a team to bat out over 150 overs in the fourth innings, and that applies to the West Indies side as well. The Roston Chase-led outfit grinded out for 163.3 overs in the fourth innings in the first Test against New Zealand, which was only marginally short of their all-time record.

West Indies had batted out 164.3 overs in the 4th Test of the 1930 home series against England in Kingston. On that occasion, they had scored 408-5 to successfully draw the contest.

#4 Highest seventh wicket partnership in the fourth innings

Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach put on an unbeaten partnership of 180 runs off 409 deliveries, which is now the highest for the seventh wicket in the fourth innings. The duo eclipsed the 160-run record held by the Indian pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Manoj Prabhakar to rescue India. The partnership had witnessed the legendary batter's maiden ton in international cricket as well.

Only two pairs have put on more than 150 runs for the seventh wicket in the fourth innings ever. Prior to Roach and Greaves' display, the duo of Jason Holder and Denesh Ramdin held the record for the West Indies with their 104-run partnership in the 1st Test of the home series against England in 2015.

#5 Highest score by a West Indies No.6 batter

Apart from being the first-ever batter to record a double hundred at No.6 in the fourth innings, he also became the record holder of the highest individual score by a West Indies batter in that position.

He goes past the record score of 178 held by former skipper Carl Hooper, who had recorded the unbeaten knock during the 3rd Test against Pakistan at St John's.

Justin Greaves is only the 10th batter to score a double hundred while batting at No.6 in Test cricket. The last player to achieve the feat was New Zealand's BJ Watling during the home series against England in 2019.