New Zealand's opening batsmen, Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham, scripted history on the first day of the third and final Test against the West Indies, dismantling a 95-year-old record with a colossal partnership that has virtually assured the hosts of a commanding position.
A Day of Dominance and Record-Breaking
After winning the toss and opting to bat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the Kiwi duo transformed the day into a run-fest. They batted through almost the entire day's play, amassing a monumental opening stand of 323 runs. The marathon partnership finally concluded in the 87th over when skipper Tom Latham was dismissed for a well-made 137 runs off 246 deliveries. Devon Conway, however, remained unbeaten at stumps on a brilliant 178 runs from 279 balls, guiding New Zealand to a formidable score of 334 for the loss of just one wicket.
This monumental collaboration is now the second-highest opening partnership in New Zealand's Test cricket history. The all-time record of 387 runs, interestingly also against the West Indies, was set by Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis back in 1972. Furthermore, this marked only the sixth occasion in New Zealand Test annals where both openers scored centuries. Latham was also part of the previous instance in 2019 against Bangladesh, partnering with Jeet Raval.
Becoming New Zealand's Most Successful Opening Pair
The historic stand propelled Conway and Latham to the summit of New Zealand's most successful Test opening partnerships of all time. Their combined run tally as an opening pair now stands at 1721 runs, surpassing the previous record of 1655 runs held by the legendary duo of John Wright and Bruce Edgar.
Conway's Insight: From Struggle to Flow
Speaking after the day's play, centurion Devon Conway revealed the mental preparation and on-field challenges. He mentioned that the plan was always to pile on runs if they batted first. "Mentally, I really knew that we were going to bat. It was a guaranteed bat day," Conway stated, suggesting they anticipated the West Indies' desire to bowl first on a green-looking wicket.
He admitted to a tough initial phase. "In the first 15-20 overs, they seemed to be bowling in really good areas and moving the ball quite a lot. I was constantly fighting myself throughout that first hour," Conway said. He even joked with Latham at lunch, saying he felt he had "forgotten how to bat" after that awkward first session.
The game transformed post-lunch. "I think it was a combination of two things. The ball got a little bit softer, a little bit older, and the wicket actually sped up a little bit. It offered up some good scoring opportunities," Conway explained. Embracing a positive mindset, he capitalised on loose deliveries, hitting 25 fours in his unbeaten knock. "One of my things is to play with freedom, play with a positive mindset, keep looking to score... If they miss, I want to capitalise and put them under pressure," he added, outlining the philosophy behind his dominant innings.
With the foundation laid by this record-shattering stand, New Zealand is in a prime position to push for a victory in the series decider, leaving the West Indies bowling attack with a monumental task on the second day.
