New Zealand Opening Batsmen Shatter Test Milestones Versus WI
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 score centuries in both innings of a match, leaving the West Indies a massive 462-run target for victory.
Latham scored 137 and 101 in this series decider, while Conway added to 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 Test.
Furthermore, Conway joined an elite club in Test history to score 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 achieving this notable 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 declaration, leaving the visitors a near-impossible target of 462 to win and level the series.
At the stumps, West Indies openers had reached 43-0, with John Campbell showing great patience to score two runs from 50 balls, while Brandon King was more aggressive on 37.