NEW DELHI: Justin Greaves did the unimaginable, adding an unbeaten 180-run partnership with Kemar Roach for the seventh wicket to secure an epic draw for West Indies against New Zealand in the first Test at Christchurch after being set 531 to win.

Greaves slammed an unbeaten 202 off 388 balls, while Kemar Roach contributed a resilient 58 not out off 233 deliveries as the West Indies batted through 163.3 overs to secure a draw.

West Indies pull off astonishing fourth-innings heist led by Justin Greaves - only one team has ever done better

Their total of 457 for 6 became the second-highest fourth-innings score in Test history, trailing only England's legendary 654 for 5 in the 1939 timeless Test against South Africa in Durban.

"[It was] just pretty much being resilient - the word we've thrown around in the dressing room a lot," Greaves 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."

From the jaws of defeat: Justin Greaves joins elite club with stunning fourth-innings double century

The innings marked a career milestone for Greaves, as his unbeaten 202 not only became his highest score in Test cricket but also his best in first-class cricket. In achieving this feat, he joined an elite group as only the seventh batter in history to score a double century in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Roach, who endured a stretch of 72 balls without scoring, also recorded his personal best in first-class cricket with his resilient 58 not out.

"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."