New Zealand Opening Batsmen Shatter Test Records Against WI

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

Final Test, Mount Maunganui (day four of five)

  • New Zealand 575 for 8 declared: 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 achieved a historic first by becoming the initial opening pair in Test cricket to score centuries in each innings of a match, setting the West Indies a record 462-run target for victory.

Latham scored 137 and 101 in this series decider, while Conway built upon his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a precise 100 in the second.

The partnership 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 single Test match.

Furthermore, Conway became just the 10th batter in Test history to achieve a double century and a hundred in the identical game.

He joined the ranks of legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in securing this extraordinary feat.

Game Situation

Earlier on day four, the Windies were dismissed for 420, facing a deficit of 155 runs, before Latham and Conway returned to bat.

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

At the stumps, West Indies openers had navigated to 43-0, with John Campbell showing great patience to score two runs from 50 balls, while Brandon King was more aggressive on 37.

Robert Smith
Robert Smith

A wellness coach and writer passionate about mindfulness and sustainable living, sharing experiences to inspire positive change.