Justin Greaves called it a "special, special day" for him and the team as he and Kemar Roach helped West Indies pull off an epic draw against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval.
After New Zealand set West Indies a target of 531, Greaves and Roach added 180 in an unbroken stand for the seventh wicket. Greaves scored 202 not out off 388 balls and Roach 58 not out off 233, as West Indies batted out 163.3 overs. Their 457 for 6 was the second-highest fourth-innings total in Test cricket, behind only England's 654 for 5 in the timeless Test against South Africa in Durban in 1939.
"[It was] just pretty much being resilient - the word we've thrown around in the dressing room a lot," Greaves, who also battled cramps towards the end of his innings, said. "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."
It was not only Greaves' highest Test score but also his best in first-class cricket. He became only the seventh batter to make a double-hundred in the fourth innings of a Test. Roach, who went 72 balls without scoring a run at one point, also registered his first-class best.
"Special, special day for me; special day for the team," Greaves said. "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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