New Zealand opening Devon Conway and Tom Latham They etched their names into the record books on Sunday, achieving a feat never before achieved in the history of Test cricket.
Batting on a flat surface at the Bay Oval, the pair scored centuries in both innings of the same Test match, becoming the first opening combination to do so.
After registering hundreds in the first innings, Latham and Conway came back in the second innings to once again dominate the bowling, showing ruthless intent and remarkable stamina. Their achievement added a historic chapter to Test cricket’s long and storied past.
Devon Conway and Tom Latham bring up quick centuries on Day 4 of the 3rd Test
With New Zealand leading by 155 runs in the first innings, the hosts opted for an aggressive approach in their second innings and the openers delivered emphatically. Latham and Conway raced to a 192-run opening partnership, completing the monumental 323-run stand they had made earlier in the match.
Both batsmen scored at an unusual pace for Test cricket, constantly punishing spinning strikes and loose deliveries. His sharp runs between the goals stood out, and despite the long hours at the start of the game, he put constant pressure up the field.
New Zealand raced to 306/2 in just 54 overs and underlined their attacking intent as the match raced towards the conclusion.
After the openers, New Zealand’s middle order continued in the same aggressive vein. Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls, while Rachin Ravindra smashed 46 off 23 overs to ease into the T20-style acceleration.
Recognizing the state of the match, New Zealand declared their second innings at 302/2, nearly an hour before stumps, leaving West Indies a daunting target of 462 runs.
Conway and Latham join elite company
Conway’s second innings century added to his 227 in the first innings, making him the sixth New Zealander to score a hundred in both innings of a Test. Moments later, Latham moved from 80 to 101 on the river after scoring 137 in the first innings – the seventh from his country to achieve the double.
Conway joins legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Graham Gooch in an illustrious list of global players to have scored a double century and a century in the same Test.
Collectively, Latham and Conway set a world record for the opening wicket, combining for 515 runs throughout the match, an achievement that underscored the extent of their dominance.
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The history of West Indies is heading towards the last day
At stumps on Day 4, West Indies reached 43 for no loss with Brandon King on 37 and John Campbell not out for two. However, they are still need 419 runs to win.
No team has successfully chased down more than 418 runs in the fourth innings of a Test, making the task historically difficult. With a series of one loss and one draw for the West Indies, they have to defy history to level the three-match series.
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