New Zealand Opening Batsmen Rewrite Test Records Versus West Indies
Third 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 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 match history to hit hundreds in both innings of a match, setting the West Indies a record 462-run target for victory.
Latham notched up 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 partnership had constructed 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 joined an elite club in Test history to score a double hundred and a century in the identical game.
He emulated legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in accomplishing this remarkable feat.
Match Context
Earlier on day four, the Windies were bowled out 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 top order propelled their side to 306-2 before a sporting declaration, setting the visitors a formidable target of 462 to win and level 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 made 37.