West Indies on the ropes in record run chase against New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH (AFP/Reuters) – Shai Hope's unbeaten hundred steered West Indies to 212-4 in a mammoth chase of 531 on day four of the opening Test against New Zealand at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday.

Wearing sunglasses after suffering an eye infection, Hope made 116 not out and forged a 140-run stand with Justin Greaves for the unbroken fifth wicket against a New Zealand attack depleted by mid-match injuries to quicks Nathan Smith and Matt Henry.

Greaves was batting on 55 with West Indies still 319 behind their target at the close of play.

"They're much better than they were a couple of days ago, but still not where I want to be, but I guess I'm seeing it well enough to be hitting the ball," Hope, who hit 15 fours and a six, said of his infection.

"Justin is a quality all-rounder, certainly showing that he's an elite international cricketer now, not just with ball in hand, but certainly showing that with the bat and then in the field."

Earlier, New Zealand declared their innings on 466-8 and set West Indies an improbable victory target in the first match of the three-Test series.

Kemar Roach claimed three lower-order wickets to finish with figures of 5-78.

New Zealand's Jacob Duffy then struck after the lunch break by dismissing both West Indies openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

Spinner Michael Bracewell removed Alick Athanaze and Henry sent back touring captain Roston Chase to reduce West Indies to 72-4.

Hope appeared to have no problem in sighting the ball as he soldiered on to bring up his fourth Test hundred.

New Zealand's Smith, who bowled 15 overs in the West Indies first innings, was ruled out of the rest of the match with a side strain and Henry could not bowl after tea and was sent to hospital for scans on his calf.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell also suffered a hamstring injury while batting in the first innings and has been ruled out of the second Test.

THE IMPROBABLE TASK

The West Indies need to break their own record fourth-innings chase to overhaul New Zealand, having reached 418-7 to beat Australia in 2003.

Openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul had appeared comfortable in the 11 overs they faced before lunch after the New Zealand second innings closed at 466-8.

But two wickets in three balls from Jacob Duffy after the break and one each to Michael Bracewell and Matt Henry tempered the tourists' outlook.

Duffy, who took five wickets in the first innings, removed Campbell for 15 in the second over after lunch with a seaming delivery that clipped the edge of the bat and Bracewell held the catch diving in front of first slip.

At the start of his next over Duffy had Chanderpaul caught behind for six.

Right-arm spinner Bracewell picked up an easy wicket when he accounted for Alick Athanaze (five).

A short-pitched delivery which should have been despatched to the boundary was instead spooned to Zak Foulkes at mid-on.

Henry, who has been troubled by a hamstring issue that restricted his first spell to three overs, came back into the attack to remove captain Roston Chase for four.

New Zealand resumed the day at 417-4 and added 49 runs in an hour before Kemar Roach ended the innings taking a return catch from Duffy (10).

Roach also took the wickets of Bracewell and Henry to finish with 5-78.

The New Zealand innings closed with eight down with Tom Blundell (hamstring) and Nathan Smith (side strain) ruled out for the rest of the Test and in doubt for the second Test, which starts in Wellington next Wednesday.