NZ Opening Batsmen Rewrite 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 all out: Hodge 123 and 43-0

New Zealand's Tom Latham and Devon Conway achieved a historic first by becoming the first openers in Test cricket to score centuries 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 series decider, while Conway built upon his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a precise 100 in the second.

The duo had put on a colossal 323-run stand in the first innings, amassing 515 runs overall—a new record for the most runs by an opening pair in a five-day game.

Furthermore, Conway joined an elite club in Test history to achieve a double hundred and a hundred in the same match.

He followed legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in securing 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 again took to the crease.

Along with contributions from Kane Williamson (40) and Rachin Ravindra (46), the New Zealand openers propelled their side to 306-2 before a sporting declaration, leaving 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 digging in to score two runs from 50 balls, while Brandon King was more aggressive on 37.