NZ Opening Batsmen Break Test Records Against WI
Final 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 all out: 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 register tons in each innings of a match, leaving the West Indies a massive 462-run target for victory.
Latham notched up 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 partnership had constructed 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 score a double century and a century 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, 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 openers propelled their side to 306-2 before a sporting declaration, leaving the visitors a near-impossible target of 462 to win and level 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.