Former CSK star involved in record opening partnership for New Zealand in NZ vs WI 3rd Test

Hosts New Zealand are in the driving seat on the opening day of the Mount Maunganui Test, where the Blackcaps openers set a record partnership for the opening wicket in home Test history.

It is the third and final Test of the series, which is a part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. Leading the series by 1-0, New Zealand chose to bat first after winning the toss. At the stumps on the opening day, New Zealand scored 334/1 in 90 overs.

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New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway put 323 runs partnership: Highest Test opening partnership for New Zealand at home

New Zealand openers, captain Tom Latham and former Chennai Super Kings star Devon Conway, set a giant 323-run partnership for the first wicket. While Latham scored 137 runs off 246 balls with 15 fours and one six, Conway scored 178 not out off 279 balls with the help of 25 fours. Experienced Caribbean pacer Kemar Roach got the only wicket of the day in the 87th over. 

It was the second-highest opening partnership for New Zealand in their Test cricket history, while also recording the highest first-wicket partnership for the Blackcaps in home Test history. Their record opening wicket partnership in Test cricket was 387 runs by Terry Jarvis and Glenn Turner against the hosts West Indies during the 1972 Georgetown Test. 

The previous home record for the highest Test opening partnership for New Zealand was 276 runs between Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills during the 1930 Wellington Test against England. 

The 323-run opening partnership also became New Zealand's seventh-highest partnership for any wicket in a home Test innings. 

Devon Conway already scores his second highest Test score

Conway, who made his Test debut with 200 runs during the 2021 Lord's Test against the hosts England, scored his second-highest Test score and third Test 150 on the first day of the Mount Maunganui Test on Thursday (December 18). With 22 more runs, he will record his second Test double century, and with one more run, he will set his new highest Test score record.