NZ Opening Batsmen Break Test Records Against WI
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 achieved a historic first by becoming the initial opening pair in Test cricket to register tons in each 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 composed 100 in the second.
The pair had constructed a colossal 323-run stand in the first innings, combining for 515 runs overall—a new record for the highest aggregate an opening pair in a five-day game.
Furthermore, Conway became just the 10th batter in Test history to score a double hundred and a hundred in the same match.
He joined the ranks of legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in accomplishing this extraordinary feat.
Game Situation
Earlier on day four, the Windies were dismissed 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, setting the visitors a formidable target of 462 to win and level the series.
At the close of play, 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.
