A New Zealand workforce with a crowded medical ward met stiff resistance and was unable to complete off the West Indies on the fourth day of the primary take a look at Friday after setting the vacationers 531 to win.

Shai Hope led the resistance along with his fourth take a look at century in an unbroken partnership of 140 with Justin Greaves which started when New Zealand captured 4 wickets comparatively rapidly within the second session.

At stumps, Hope was 116 not out, Greaves was 55 not out and the West Indies have been 212-4, trailing New Zealand by 319 runs.

New Zealand led by 530 runs when its second innings got here to an finish Thursday at 466-8. It was a moot level whether or not New Zealand declared or just ran out of match batters. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell was unable to bat due to a hamstring damage and allrounder Nathan Smith was inactive with a facet pressure.

Matt Henry bowled 11 overs within the West Indies’ second innings earlier than leaving to go to the hospital, handily adjoining to Hagley Oval for scans on painful calf muscle. With Henry and Smith out of motion, Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, with solely two earlier assessments between them and of their first assessments at house, have been left as New Zealand’s solely match pacers.

So as to add damage to damage, Hope remains to be affected by a severe eye an infection which has pressured him to bat in sun shades in each innings; to make a half century within the first innings and a century. He was unable to subject for many of New Zealand’s second innings and has wanted antibiotic eye drops. That made his effort all through the fourth day all of the extra meritorious because the medical employees of each groups have been stored busily employed.

“I don’t wish to give away an excessive amount of but it surely’s nearly understanding what you must do to beat a scenario,” Hope mentioned. “They’ve acquired high quality bowlers in take a look at cricket, no one’s a walkover on this format.”

New Zealand had no alternative from the second session however to tie up one finish with the spinners Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra, then rotate Duffy and Foulkes on the different finish with the nagging wind at their backs.