NZ Openers Shatter Test Milestones Versus West Indies

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 all out: 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 hit hundreds 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 series decider, while Conway built upon his mammoth 227 in the first innings with a precise 100 in the second.

The pair had shared a massive 323-run stand in the first innings, amassing 515 runs overall—a fresh benchmark for the most runs by an opening pair in a five-day game.

Furthermore, Conway entered rare company in Test history to score a double century and a century in the same match.

He emulated legends like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara in achieving this extraordinary 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 top order propelled their side to 306-2 before a declaration, leaving the visitors a near-impossible 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.