Kemar Roach scripts records with maiden Test half-century: Key stats
What's the story
West Indies have pulled off a remarkable draw in the first Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The match ended in a stalemate after the visitors batted out over 163 overs in their fourth innings. The epic resistance was led by an unlikely seventh-wicket partnership between Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach, who faced a combined total of 409 deliveries. The latter completed his maiden Test fifty during the course. Here are his stats.
Match recap
Here is the match summary
New Zealand, after bowling out West Indies for a mere 167 in their second innings, took a 64-run lead. They then declared their second innings at a mammoth 466/8, with centuries from captain Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra. This set the visitors a daunting target of 531 runs just before lunch on Day 4. Though WI were reduced to 72/4 in the chase, centurions Shai Hope (14) and Greaves (202*) rescued their team with a 196-run stand.
Historic stand
Sensational fightback from Roach and Greaves
Starting the final day at 212 for four, West Indies lost Shai Hope and wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach early on. However, veteran pacer Roach and Greaves forged a record partnership to save the Test match. The duo's effort helped West Indies finish with an impressive 457/7 in their fourth innings, making it the highest-ever fourth innings score in a five-day Test match.
Stats
Roach recorded these feats
Roach survived 233 balls en route to his unbeaten 58 (8 fours). As per ESPNcricinfo, this is the fourth-highest fourth-innings score by a WI batter operating at eight or lower. However, each of the three batters above Roach on this list played their knocks in home Tests. Moreover, Roach became the first batter to survive over 200 balls in the fourth innings while batting at eight or lower.
Partnership records
Greaves and Roach's record-breaking partnership
Greaves and Roach's partnership was the longest below the fifth wicket in a fourth-innings of a drawn Test. The duo added 180 runs off 409 balls together, with Greaves scoring an unbeaten double century. No other pair, for the seventh wicket or lower, has survived even 270 balls in the fourth innings. Greaves and Roach also broke the record for the highest fourth-innings partnership for the seventh wicket or lower.
Stats
Maiden Test fifty for Roach
Roach's maiden Test fifty has taken his tally to 1,354 runs from 86 games at 12.53. His previous best Test score was 47 against Bangladesh last year. With the ball, the pacer claimed a fifer in the third innings of the game - 5/78 in 22 overs. The 37-year-old pacer claimed two wickets in his first outing as well. Roach has raced to 291 wickets at a fine average of 26.98. This includes 14 four-wicket hauls and 12 fifers.