New Zealand Opening Batsmen Rewrite Test Records Against West Indies

Cricket action
Tom Latham and Devon Conway have given the Kiwis a dominant lead.

Third Test, Mount Maunganui (the fourth day of five)

  • New Zealand 575-8 dec: Conway 227, Latham 137 and 306-2 dec: Latham 101, Conway 100
  • West Indies 420: Hodge 123 and 43-0

New Zealand's Tom Latham and Devon Conway etched their names in the record books by becoming the initial opening pair in Test match history to register tons in each innings of a match, setting the West Indies a daunting 462-run target for victory.

Latham scored 137 and 101 in this third and final Test, while Conway added to his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a precise 100 in the second.

The duo had shared a massive 323-run stand in the first innings, totaling 515 runs overall—a new record for the highest aggregate an opening pair in a five-day game.

Furthermore, Conway joined an elite club in Test history to achieve a double century and a hundred in the same match.

He emulated legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in achieving this extraordinary feat.

Game Situation

Earlier on day four, the Windies were bowled out for 420, facing a deficit of 155 runs, before Latham and Conway resumed their partnership.

Along with contributions from Kane Williamson (40) and Rachin Ravindra (46), the New Zealand top order propelled their side to 306-2 before a sporting declaration, leaving the visitors a formidable target of 462 to win and square the series.

At the close of play, West Indies openers had reached 43-0, with John Campbell showing great patience to score two runs from 50 balls, while Brandon King made 37.

Ashley Smith
Ashley Smith

Eleanor Vance is a freelance journalist specializing in digital media and UK current affairs, with over a decade of experience in online publishing.