Well firstly keeping the rook on the back rank for a little while might have helped. If black played well, I think that a draw can be possible if pawns are traded off. If black can put his rook behind the d pawn he has good chances.
Can Black save this?
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killthequeen wrote:
If black can put his rook behind the d pawn he has good chances.
That's what I was thinking. 45. ... Nd4 looks like a mistake. I'm wondering if 45. ... Rh4 (aiming for d4) might have some promise.
But then 46.b5 is annoying again. The rook belongs on the back rank, to guard against the mate. So Rh3-h8-d8.
Also I think you don't need to go to a8 on the first move; 44...Kc8 keeps the king a bit more active (less likely to get mated), and right now 45.Rc7+ Kd8 46.Rxc6 is harmless anyway because of 46...d2 (47.Bc7+ Kd7 48.Rd6+ Kxc7 49.Rxd2 Rxa3=).
This is how the game continued, could Black have done better, or even won? That pawn looks dangerous....