New Zealander Devon Conway celebrates his century. Photo: AFP
MOUNT MAUNGANUI:
Devon Conway and Tom Latham ransacked a poor West Indies attack on Thursday for a mammoth opening partnership on the first day of the third Test at Mt Maunganui as New Zealand piled up 334-1.
Conway ended the day on 178 not out and captain Latham was out just before the close for 137.
The pair put together 323, the second highest opening partnership for New Zealand, bettered only by Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis’ stand of 387 against the West Indies at Georgetown in 1972.
It was also only the eighth time that New Zealand had registered a stand of over 300 in a Test.
Conway bowled the day facing 279 balls for his second century of the calendar year, but his first at home since January 2022 against Bangladesh in Christchurch.
Scored 153 against Zimbabwe in August.
Nightwatchman Jacob Duffy was on nine at the end of the game.
The 34-year-old Conway brought up his sixth Test century from 147 balls and stroked 25 fours during his 279-ball stay.
Latham’s 15th Test century featured 15 fours and a six as he faced 264 balls.
Conway and Captain Latham had an almost unfortunate partnership. For the first two sessions, the West Indies toiled without a single shout.
Early in the third session they finally created a chance but Latham was dismissed by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off the bowling of Anderson Phillip when they were 104 and New Zealand on 253.
The marathon partnership vindicated Latham’s decision to bat first on a green wicket that looks to suit spin later in the match.
The West Indies found good movement from the grass surface in the opening overs, bowling tight lines that were carefully defended by both Conway and Latham, but became more aggressive when the new ball came out.
West Indies skipper Roston Chase said he would bowl if he won the toss.
On a suggestion that the round would play a role later in the fight he said he would “have to see it to believe it”.
But after just 22 overs, Chase was ready to bowl his offspin and ended up bowling 19 overs for the day.
Kemar Roach was the best of the bowlers, taking the lone wicket for figures of 1-63 from 17 overs.
New Zealand included spinner Ajaz Patel in their side for their first Test at home in five years. Tom Blundell returned to keep wicket after missing the previous Test with injury.
West Indies made one change, with injured fast bowler Ojay Shields replaced by batsman Alick Athanaze.
New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0 after a draw in the first Test in Christchurch and a nine-wicket win in Wellington.
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