New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham etched their names into the record books on Sunday by producing a feat never previously achieved in Test cricket history.
Batting on a flat surface at Bay Oval, the pair scored centuries in both innings of the same Test match, becoming the first opening combination ever to do so.
After registering commanding hundreds in the first innings, Latham and Conway returned in the second to once again dominate the bowling, showcasing relentless intent and remarkable endurance. Their achievement has added a historic chapter to Test cricket’s long and storied past.
Devon Conway and Tom Latham unleash rapid centuries on Day 4 of 3rd Test
With New Zealand holding a 155-run first-innings lead, the hosts opted for an aggressive approach in their second innings, and their openers delivered emphatically. Latham and Conway raced to a 192-run opening partnership, complementing the monumental 323-run stand they had produced earlier in the match.
Both batters scored at an unusually brisk pace for Test cricket, constantly rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Their sharp running between the wickets stood out, placing sustained pressure on the fielding side despite having already spent long hours at the crease earlier in the game.
New Zealand surged to 306/2 in just 54 overs, underlining their attacking intent as the match moved rapidly towards a result.
After the openers, New Zealand’s middle order continued in the same aggressive vein. Kane Williamson struck an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls, while Rachin Ravindra smashed 46 not out from just 23 deliveries, switching seamlessly into T20-style acceleration.
Recognising the match situation, New Zealand declared their second innings at 302/2, roughly an hour before stumps, setting the 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 only the sixth New Zealander to score a hundred in both innings of a Test. Moments later, Latham followed suit, moving from 80 at tea to 101, after having struck 137 in the first innings – becoming the seventh from his country to achieve the double.
Conway also joined an illustrious global list of players to score a double century and a century in the same Test, alongside legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Graham Gooch.
Collectively, Latham and Conway set a world record for the opening wicket, combining for 515 runs across the match, an achievement that underscores the scale of their dominance.
West Indies trail history heading into final day
At stumps on Day 4, the West Indies reached 43 without loss, with Brandon King on 37 and John Campbell unbeaten on two. However, they still require 419 more runs to win.
No team has ever successfully chased more than 418 runs in the fourth innings of a Test, making the task historically daunting. With the series standing at one loss and one draw for the West Indies, they must defy history to level the three-match series.
