New Zealand Opening Batsmen Shatter Test Match Records Versus West Indies

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

Final Test, Mount Maunganui (day four 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 made history by becoming the initial opening pair in Test cricket to register tons in each innings of a match, setting the West Indies a massive 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 composed 100 in the second.

The partnership had put on a massive 323-run stand in the first innings, amassing 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 score a double hundred and a century in the same match.

He emulated legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in securing this notable feat.

Game Situation

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 contributions 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 formidable target of 462 to win and level 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 was more aggressive on 37.

Scott Greene
Scott Greene

Elena is a certified wellness coach and herbalist who has been writing about natural health for over a decade.