NZ Openers Rewrite Test Milestones Versus West Indies

Cricket action
Tom Latham and Devon Conway have established a formidable advantage for their team.

Third Test, Mount Maunganui (day four of five)

  • New Zealand 575-8 dec: 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 made history by becoming the initial opening pair in Test cricket to score centuries in each innings of a match, leaving the West Indies a record 462-run target for victory.

Latham scored 137 and 101 in this third and final Test, while Conway added to his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a composed 100 in the second.

The duo had shared a massive 323-run stand in the first innings, amassing 515 runs overall—a unprecedented total for the most runs by an opening pair in a five-day game.

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

He emulated legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in achieving 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 knocks 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 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 made 37.

Marc Mckee
Marc Mckee

A philosopher and science writer passionate about exploring the mysteries of the universe and human existence through engaging narratives.