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An injury-ravaged New Zealand side finally ran into some firm West Indies resistance on Day Four of the first Test in Christchurch on Friday failing to press home their advantage despite setting an unlikely 531-run target. Batter Shai Hope stood tall keeping a rampaging Black Caps side at bay to stretch the game into the fifth and final day. Battling a severe eye infection that forced him to bat in sunglasses the West Indies vice-captain produced a splendid fourth Test century anchoring an unbroken 140-run stand with all-rounder Justin Greaves. Their partnership began after New Zealand grabbed four wickets in quick time post-tea and ended the day still intact — Hope unbeaten on 116 Greaves solid on 55 as the visitors reached 212/4 still trailing by 319. Hope had turned out for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024 season and scored 183 runs in 9 matches at a strike-rate of 150. But the West Indies ODI skipper went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. The West Indies star batter will be hoping that centuries against India in the second Test in New Delhi last month followed by a ton at the Hagley Oval will brighten his chance of getting pick at the IPL 2026 mini auction which takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.   Top Draw! Shai Hope with his fourth test century and a crucial one in the context of the game. #NZvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/DnSEHGXTMu — Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 5 2025 Earlier New Zealand’s second innings closed at 466 for 8 extending their lead to 530. The innings petered out more from lack of fit personnel than strategic intent as Tom Blundell could not bat due to a hamstring strain while Nathan Smith was sidelined with a side strain. Matt Henry bowled 11 overs before heading to hospital for scans on a calf injury leaving the hosts with only two fully fit quicks — Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes both inexperienced and in their first home Tests. With their pace resources dwindling New Zealand were forced into containment mode leaning heavily on spin. Michael Bracewell sent down 22 overs for 1/54 and Rachin Ravindra nine while Duffy (19 overs 2/65) and Foulkes (13 overs) rotated bowling into the wind. Hope — who also struck 50 in the first innings — continued battling his eye condition with the aid of antibiotics adding weight to the durability of his performance. “I don’t want to give away too much but it’s about knowing what needs to be done to overcome situations” Hope said. “They have quality bowlers — no one is a walkover in Test cricket.” New Zealand had resumed at 417/4 already well beyond safety after first-innings scores of 231 and 167. Ravindra (171) and Tom Latham (145) had secured dominance on day three and Latham — captaining and keeping wicket in Blundell’s absence — chose to bat on through the first 14 overs of the morning. The West Indies reply began steadily through John Campbell (15) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (6) but Duffy removed both after lunch followed by further blows from Bracewell (Alick Athanaze 5) and Henry (Roston Chase 4) to leave the tourists tottering at 72/4. From there Hope and Greaves closed the shutters and rebuilt guiding the West Indies to stumps without further damage — and keeping alive the possibility of an absorbing fifth-day finish. The fitness of Henry and Smith may ultimately determine New Zealand’s ability to force victory.