New Zealand Opening Batsmen Rewrite Test Records Versus West Indies

Cricket action
Tom Latham and Devon Conway have put New Zealand in a commanding position.

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: 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 register tons in both innings of a match, setting the West Indies a daunting 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 precise 100 in the second.

The partnership had constructed 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 five-day game.

Furthermore, Conway became just the 10th batter in Test history to score a double century 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 securing 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 resumed their partnership.

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, setting the visitors a formidable target of 462 to win and square the series.

At the stumps, 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.

Jessica Dean
Jessica Dean

A professional poker player and writer, sharing insights from over a decade of experience in tournaments across Europe.