New Zealand Openers Shatter Test Match Records Versus WI
Third Test, Mount Maunganui (the fourth day 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 first openers in Test cricket to hit hundreds in both innings of a match, leaving the West Indies a daunting 462-run target for victory.
Latham posted 137 and 101 in this series decider, while Conway built upon his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a composed 100 in the second.
The pair had shared a massive 323-run stand in the first innings, combining for 515 runs overall—a unprecedented total for the highest aggregate an opening pair in a Test.
Furthermore, Conway entered rare company in Test history to achieve a double century and a century in the identical game.
He followed legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in accomplishing this remarkable feat.
Game Situation
Earlier on day four, the Windies were dismissed for 420, trailing by 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 near-impossible target of 462 to win and square the series.
At the close of play, 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.
