New Zealand's Record-Setting Opening Partnership in Test Cricket

Historic Opening Stand Achieved

In a remarkable feat, the New Zealand opening duo of Tom Latham and Devon Conway set a new record for the highest opening partnership by a Kiwi pair in Test cricket history.

This achievement took place during the third and final Test match against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui on Thursday. The left-handed batsmen dominated the West Indies bowlers, amassing an impressive 323 runs for the first wicket.

With this performance, they surpassed the previous record held by Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills, who scored 276 runs for the first wicket against England in Wellington back in 1930.

The overall record for the highest opening partnership in Test cricket is still held by South Africa's Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith, who put together 415 runs against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2008.

Individual Achievements of the Openers

Latham played a stellar innings, scoring 137 runs off 246 balls, including 15 fours and a six. This performance ties him with Martin Guptill for the most international centuries by a New Zealander, with both having 23 centuries. They trail behind legends like Kane Williamson (48 centuries), Ross Taylor (40 centuries), and Nathan Astle (27 centuries).

This innings marked Latham's 15th Test century, the highest for any Kiwi opener in Test matches.

Conway concluded the day unbeaten at 178 runs from 279 balls, hitting 25 fours, while nightwatchman Jacob Duffy contributed 9 runs. Kemar Roach, the experienced West Indies pacer, claimed the only wicket for his team.

Latham's Thoughts on the Partnership

After the day's play, Latham shared his reflections on the partnership, stating, "It was a fantastic partnership between Dev (Conway) and myself. I'm pleased with our performance today. Once you gain momentum, it’s easier to keep it going. The West Indies bowlers performed well, particularly in the second session, challenging us frequently. We had to recognize certain spells when things got tricky and find opportunities to take control. Dev's performance was outstanding, and it relieved some pressure off me. It was a lot of fun out there. Regarding the conditions, the first session was a bit slow, not offering much sideways movement, but it improved after lunch, providing more seam movement and bounce. We managed to adapt and build momentum. It would have been great to finish the day together, but Duff did well to see us through."