WTC Record: New Zealand cricket witnessed a moment of modern Test history on Thursday as Tom Latham and Devon Conway produced a sensational opening partnership to rewrite the World Test Championship (WTC) record books.
Batting with authority and patience, the Black Caps’ opening pair stitched together a monumental 323-run stand against the West Indies at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, setting a new benchmark for the highest opening partnership since the inception of the WTC in 2019.
The record-breaking effort eclipsed the previous WTC best of 317 runs, held by India’s Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal, who achieved the feat against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019. Latham and Conway not only surpassed that mark but also registered the second-highest opening partnership in New Zealand’s Test history, underlining the magnitude of their achievement.
A Day Dominated by Latham and Conway
From the very first session, Latham and Conway were in complete control. The West Indies bowlers struggled to find consistency as the New Zealand openers mixed solid defense with fluent stroke play. The pair punished loose deliveries, rotated the strike efficiently, and showed immense discipline against the new ball.
Captain Tom Latham led from the front, compiling a classy 137 to bring up his 15th Test century. His innings was a blend of composure and controlled aggression, anchoring the innings while allowing Conway to play freely at the other end. Devon Conway, meanwhile, was simply outstanding. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 178 at stumps, registering his sixth Test century and continuing his remarkable consistency at the top of the order.
Latham’s resistance finally ended late on the opening day when veteran West Indies pacer Kemar Roach produced a breakthrough, dismissing the skipper to finish with figures of 1/63. Night-watchman Jacob Duffy (9*) then joined Conway as New Zealand closed the day in a commanding position at 334/1, firmly in control of the third Test.
Historic Context for New Zealand Cricket
To truly appreciate the scale of Latham and Conway’s partnership, one must look back more than five decades. The last time New Zealand’s openers crossed the 300-run mark in a Test match was in April 1972, when Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis put on a mammoth 387-run opening stand—also against the West Indies—in Guyana.
While Latham and Conway fell short of surpassing that long-standing national record, their 323-run partnership now stands proudly as the second-highest opening stand in New Zealand Test history. On the global stage, it is ranked joint 12th among the best opening partnerships in Test cricket overall.
More significantly for the modern era, the duo now hold the record for the highest opening partnership since the World Test Championship began, adding a prestigious milestone to New Zealand’s red-ball legacy.
Breaking India’s WTC Record
The WTC opening-wicket record previously belonged to Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal, whose 317-run stand against South Africa in 2019 had remained untouched for years. Latham and Conway edged past that mark just before stumps, a moment that symbolized New Zealand’s dominance throughout the day.
This achievement further reinforces the strength of New Zealand’s top order, which has been a cornerstone of their success in Test cricket over the past decade. Partnerships like these not only put matches beyond the opposition but also set the tone for long-term success in the World Test Championship cycle.
Series So Far: A Competitive Contest
The ongoing Test series between New Zealand and the West Indies has provided plenty of intrigue. The first Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch ended in a draw, while the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington set up a decisive third encounter.
With Latham and Conway’s record-breaking stand, New Zealand have taken a firm grip on the final Test, putting themselves in a strong position to close out the series on a high.
Series Schedule:
- First Test: December 2–6, Hagley Oval, Christchurch – Drawn
- Second Test: December 10–14, Basin Reserve, Wellington
- Third Test: December 18–22, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
A Partnership to Remember
Tom Latham and Devon Conway’s 323-run opening stand will be remembered as one of the defining moments of New Zealand’s Test cricket journey in the World Test Championship era. Beyond the records and numbers, it was a masterclass in opening batting—built on trust, technique, and relentless pressure on the opposition.
As the Black Caps continue their pursuit of WTC glory, performances like this serve as a powerful reminder of why New Zealand remain one of the most disciplined and dangerous teams in Test cricket today.
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