West Indies' Kemar Roach catches the ball to dismiss New Zealand's Jacob Duffy during day four of the first Test cricket match between New Zealand and West Indies at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on December 5, 2025

Christchurch (New Zealand) (AFP) - The West Indies made a safe start to their colossal 531-run target in the first Test against an injury-hit New Zealand on Friday as they reached 20-0 at lunch on day four in Christchurch.

John Campbell was on 11 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul not out five in 11 overs at the crease.

New Zealand resumed the day at 417-4 and added 49 runs in an hour before the innings closed at 466-8 with injured wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and seamer Nathan Smith unable to bat.

Kemar Roach ripped through the tail-order with the wickets of Michael Bracewell (25), Matt Henry (eight) and Jacob Duffy (10) to finish with 5-78.

Will Young added two to his overnight score before he was caught in the gully off the bowling of Jayden Seales for 23.

Blundell (hamstring) and Smith (side strain) will take no further part in the match and are in doubt for the second Test, which starts in Wellington next Wednesday.

Tom Latham, who regularly keeps in white-ball cricket, has replaced Blundell behind the stumps but the absence of Smith has left the attack a bowler short in this Test.