‘Get your bloody finger up!’: Unthinkable world-record chase on the line after cruel umpire blow

The West Indies are within 100 runs of doing the unthinkable on Day 5 against New Zealand in Christchurch, chasing the whopping target of 531 in their fourth innings.

Batting all-rounder Justin Greaves has led the Windies’ charge with the bat, crafting a career-best score of 187 not out that threatened to see a plethora of Test records crumbling.

The right-hander from Barbados has been aptly supported in his career-best knock by pace bowler Kemar Roach (53*), who himself is also amid his best-ever innings from 86 Test matches.

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While the West Indies now look highly unlikely to usuurp their own record for the highest fourth-innings chase (418 vs Australia in 2003), the possibility remains remotely live given they still have four wickets in hand.

With the Kiwis going wicketless for an extended period of time, Roach was handed a huge lifeline by the on-field umpire in the 143rd over, having been given not out for a caught behind appeal.

Replays showed he had indeed hit the ball, leaving the hosts hapless, having already used their three reviews for the innings unsuccessfully.

After the 142nd over, broadcast vision showed both Bracewell and stand-in wicketkeeper Tom Latham approach the umpire, with audio revealing one said: “Come on Wharfy (Alex Wharf), get your bloody finger up, mate.”

The tourists needed 97 runs to win from a minimum of 17 overs remaining in the final session. At the time of writing, their score of 6/434 is the eight-highest of all-time in the fourth innings of a Test.

Earlier in the innings, Shai Hope also registered a ton, before being dismissed for 140 of the bowling of Jacob Duffy.

MORE TO COME…