"You cannot take the cricket out of the West Indies" - Fans react to the Men in Maroon scoring 457-6 in fourth innings in NZ vs WI 2025 1st Test 

West Indies pulled off a stunning fourth-innings fightback after being handed a mammoth 531-run target by New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Justin Greaves and Shai Hope notched defiant hundreds to help salvage some crucial points for the visitors as the clash ended in a draw.

West Indies had fended off the returning Kane Williamson and the rest of the batters to bowl them out for 237 in the first innings. However, they stumbled with the bat, collapsing from 100-2 to 167 all out in quick succession.

The Blackcaps capitalised on the lead to pile on 466-8 in the second innings, with the left-handed pair of Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra scoring hundreds. West Indies were reduced to 72-4 in the run chase and were on the brink of their sixth successive loss in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC).

Shai Hope, however, battling an eye infection, stepped up for his side with a sublime hundred. He put on 196 runs for the fifth wicket, before being dismissed early on Day 5. The team were in a tricky position after Tevin Imlach also perished soon after, but the duo of Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach battled it out for over 400 deliveries to deny New Zealand a win.

Fans hailed the West Indies' sheer grit and resilience, and backed them to rise in international cricket on the back of this historic display.

Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog

@cricket_broken

Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner Kyle Mayers and Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, & Kemar Roach. ​Every few years, West Indies cricket does the unthinkable during a chase. You can take the West Indies out of the cricket but you cannot take the cricket

Naeem

@1eight_18

West Indies giving more competition than gambhir's india team against NZ that too in their home

rameen

@rameenwhile

everyone rally round the west Indies IMMEDIATELY

Smith Shah || Ghostwriter

@smithshah18

At this point in time, I don't know what's more unpredictable - the price of Bitcoin or the performance of West Indies. #cricket #WIvsNZ

Werner

@Werries_

Incredible fight shown by the West Indies against NZ World cricket would be so much richer for it if the Windies were to become really competitive again

Ashwin 🇮🇳

@ashwinravi99

This is a team that can get all out for 37, win a pink ball test match at the Gabba, chase down 320 odd for a win at the Headingley and now tracking down 530 with some solid character at Christchurch.👌👌#wivnz They are such a talented cricketing nation that can excite and

West Indies record the second-highest fourth innings score in Test cricket history

The Men in Maroon now hold the record for the second-highest fourth-innings score in Test cricket after overtaking New Zealand's 451-run effort against England at the same venue in 2002. The record is still held by England, who scored 654-5 in the final innings of the fifth Test against South Africa in Durban in 1939.

This result also marks the first time since 2013 that the West Indies have not lost a Test in New Zealand. During the 12-year run, they had lost six Tests, with four of them being by an innings.