In a remarkable display of batting prowess, New Zealand’s opening partnership of Tom Latham and Devon Conway has made history in their ongoing test match against the West Indies. The duo achieved a monumental feat by both scoring centuries in the same test for the second time in as many innings, marking the first occurrence of one set of openers registering two centuries in a single test match.
Building on their impressive first innings score of 323, Latham and Conway’s partnership surged to 192 runs from 242 deliveries in the second innings, laying a solid foundation for New Zealand’s declaration. Their combined tally of 515 runs stands as the highest ever for a pair of openers in test cricket history.
Conway’s remarkable performance included a double century in the first innings, where he scored a career-best 227, alongside his century in the second innings which made him the first New Zealander to achieve such a rare combination in a single test. With a total of 327 runs in this match, he trails only behind cricket legends Stephen Fleming and Martin Crowe for the most runs accumulated by a Kiwi in a single test.
Latham, celebrating his own accomplishments, notched up his 16th test century, extending his record for the most centuries by a New Zealand opener and marking his third of the ongoing series. Reflecting on family legacy, his achievement of being part of two consecutive century opening stands echoes that of his father, Rod Latham, who achieved a similar feat back in 1992.
On the bowling front, Jacob Duffy continued to shine with a first-innings haul of 4-86, positioning him as a key player for New Zealand on the final day of test proceedings. Meanwhile, Ajaz Patel, after a long wait for his first test wicket on home soil, also contributed significantly with figures of 3-113.
Despite the challenges, the West Indies, buoyed by the return of key players Shai Hope and Kemar Roach, showcased resilience in their chase. However, with the pitch expected to deteriorate further and crucial World Test Championship points at stake, a challenging task lies ahead for the visitors as they seek a monumental 419 runs to claim victory.
With both teams eyeing a strategic edge, the final day promises to be a captivating conclusion to what has already become a record-setting test match at Bay Oval.