Latham-Conway register best opening partnership by Kiwi pair in Test history (ANI) New Zealand’s third Test against the West Indies at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui began with a statement of dominance from the hosts, driven by a record opening stand on Day 1. After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bat and were immediately rewarded with Devon Conway and Tom Latham turning the opening session into a marathon. Conway, who entered the match just two days after going unsold in the auction, remained unbeaten on 178 at the stumps, while skipper Latham anchored a fluent 137 at the other end. By the end of the game, the pair had etched their names in the record books.Also watch:
Prashant Veer’s parents react after their son gets Rs 14.20 crore IPL offer
Their partnership of 323 for the first wicket is now the highest opening stand in Test World Cup history. In the process, they got past India’s Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal, who put together 317 against South Africa in 2019. The list of greatest opening partnerships in WTC history now puts Conway and Latham at the top spot. The stand also carried deep historical significance for New Zealand cricket. Conway and Latham broke a record that had stood for 95 years to record the highest ever opening partnership by a New Zealand pair on home soil. The previous mark of 276 was set by Charles Stewart Dempster and John Ernest Mills against England in Wellington in 1930. In the wider context of New Zealand’s Test history, the 323-run opening stand is the second highest by any Kiwi opening pair. Only Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis, who added 387 against the West Indies at Georgetown in 1972, are above them on this list. What started as a strong opening day for New Zealand ultimately turned into a watershed moment that underlined the class of Conway and Latham and the extent of their achievements at Mount Maunganui.
