New Zealand Openers Break Test Match Records Against West Indies
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 etched their names in the record books by becoming the initial opening pair in Test match history to register tons in both innings of a match, leaving the West Indies a record 462-run target for victory.
Latham notched up 137 and 101 in this third and final Test, while Conway built upon his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a composed 100 in the second.
The pair had put on a colossal 323-run stand in the first innings, combining for 515 runs overall—a unprecedented total for the highest aggregate an opening pair in a single Test match.
Furthermore, Conway became just the 10th batter in Test history to achieve a double century and a hundred in the same match.
He followed 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 dismissed for 420, facing a deficit of 155 runs, before Latham and Conway again took to the crease.
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 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 made 37.