New Zealand’s Latham-Conway duo breaks Rohit–Mayank’s WTC opening partnership mark

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway eclipsed a record long held by India’s Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal, registering the highest opening partnership since the launch of the ICC World Test Championship.

Latham and Conway put on a commanding 323-run stand for the first wicket during the third Test against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui, surpassing the previous benchmark of 317 set by Rohit and Mayank against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019. The partnership underlined New Zealand’s dominance on the opening day as the West Indies attack struggled for breakthroughs.

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Skipper Latham anchored the stand with a fluent 137, bringing up his 15th Test century, while Conway was equally assured at the other end, remaining unbeaten on 178 for his sixth hundred in the format. Their partnership carried New Zealand deep into the day before Latham was finally dismissed late by veteran pacer Kemar Roach, who finished with figures of 1 for 63.

At stumps, the hosts were firmly in control at 334 for 1, with Conway joined by nightwatchman Jacob Duffy, who was unbeaten on nine.

While the New Zealand duo fell short of the country’s all-time opening partnership record of 387, set by Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis against the West Indies in Guyana in 1972, their effort still ranks among the most significant in Test history. The 323-run stand is now the highest opening partnership in the World Test Championship era and the equal 12th highest for the first wicket in all Test cricket.

With that mammoth partnership, Latham and Conway set the tone for a dominant Test performance, putting New Zealand firmly in command after a memorable opening day.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 334/1 (Devon Conway 178*, Tom Latham 137; Kemar Roach 1-63) vs West Indies