Devon Conway and Tom Latham achieve historic feat with centuries in both innings of 3rd Test vs West Indies
New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham achieved a historic feat with centuries in both innings of the ongoing 3rd Test against West Indies at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham continued their dominant run with the bat in the hosts' second innings of the ongoing third Test against West Indies at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, December 21. After smashing tons apiece in the first innings, Latham and Conway slammed centuries in New Zealand's 2nd innings to achieve a historic feat in Test cricket.
Conway and Latham shared a record 323-run opening stand in New Zealand's first innings on Day 1 of the third Test, with centuries apiece. While Conway top-scored for the hosts with a brilliant 227-run knock, Latham hammered 137 to help the Kiwis post a mammoth 575/8 on the board. The openers continued their prolific run in their side's second innings.
On Day 4 of the Test match on Sunday, Latham scored 101, while Conway slammed a 100 off 139 deliveries in New Zealand's second innings to help the hosts declare on 306/2 and set up a huge target of 462 runs for West Indies in their second innings. The duo also scripted a massive feat with their respective tons.
A rare first in Test cricket
Conway and Latham achieved a rare first in Test cricket and first-class cricket as they became the first opening pair to score centuries in both innings of a match. It became the first instance of both openers scoring a ton apiece in both innings of a Test match or a first-class game.
The duo shared a 192-run opening stand in the hosts' second innings to help them set up a big target for West Indies. Earlier, they had entered the record books after their 323-run opening stand in the first innings.
Conway and Latham's 323-run stand became the highest opening partnership by a New Zealand pair on home soil, surpassing the 276-run opening stand between Charles Stewart Dempster and John Ernest Mills against England in Wellington in 1930.
Conway and Latham's 323-run stand also became the highest in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC), surpassing the previous best of 317 runs by India's Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal against South Africa in 2019.
West Indies need 419 runs on Day 5 to win 3rd Test against New Zealand
Thanks to Latham and Conway's batting heroics, New Zealand are currently on top in the third Test against West Indies in Mount Maunganui. After centuries from the openers, Kane Williamson remained unbeaten on 40, while Rachin Ravindra scored 46 not out to guide the Kiwis to 306/2 (declared) in their second innings.
West Indies ended with 43/0 at stumps on Day 4 after New Zealand set them a huge target of 462 runs in their second innings. The visitors will have their task cut out on the final day of the Test match, with 419 runs required to win the Test match and level the series 1-1. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be hoping to bundle out the visitors to secure a victory.
New Zealand are currently leading the three-match series 1-0 after a 9-wicket win in the 2nd Test in Wellington. The series opener in Hagley Oval ended in a draw.