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Sport Nation
Blackcaps openers dominate opening day of third Test
Sport Nation • December 18th, 2025 6:45 pm
Jayden Seales dejected as Tom Latham and Devon Conway continue to build their partnership | Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
Day 1 ends with the late dismissal of Tom Latham, sending Jacob Duffy out to the middle with Devon Conway to start Day 2.
The opening partnership of 216 between Conway and Latham look to continue their dominance in the last session of day one at Bay Oval.
For the first time since 2019, both openers have eclipsed the century mark with captain Tom Latham joining Devon Conway on triple digits.
Close call for the Blackcaps captain, Latham is dropped by Tevin Imlach in their only real chance at a wicket today.
The dominance continues for NZ's openers, moving to third on the all-time opening partnership list for the Blackcaps, and the most since 1972.
The train keeps on rolling for the Blackcaps as Conway brings up 150, stretching the opening partnership to second on NZ's all-time opening partnership run list.
We have the first review of the day as the West Indies think they might have an lbw here, however, the replay quickly shows an inside edge, and the review is unsuccessful.
Shortly after the pair in the middle bring up 300 without loss for the Blackcaps before the end of the 80th over.
The pair have become only the 8th partnership to score 300 runs for New Zealand.
Devon Conway fires his 25th boundary of the day on a textbook drive right through the middle of long-on and long-off, triggering some cramps in Conway's hand.
"You know you've been batting for a long time when your hand cramps up," Ian Smith mentioned on Sport Nation.
The first wicket finally falls for the Blackcaps
Tom Latham tries to slice the shorter delivery from Kemar Roach but gets caught brilliantly by his opposing skipper Roston Chase in the slip cordon.
Out to the middle comes night watchman Jacob Duffy as Latham departs with a brilliant 137.
The West Indies can at least leave Bay Oval with something after claiming the NZ captain's wicket, bringing the opening Blackcaps partnership to a close at 323, good enough for second on NZ's all-time opening partnership run list.
Devon Conway and Tom Latham pick up centuries on opening day of third Test vs West Indies | Sport Nation Cricket
Century for Conway in the Bay
Tom Latham and Devon Conway are back at the crease and immediately back into their work.
And not long after resumption here at Bay Oval, Devon Conway brings up another Test half-century with his seventh boundary of the day.
Another couple of boundaries in the over for Conway and the Blackcaps opening partnership bring up 100 runs for no loss, the first time New Zealand openers have hit this mark against the West Indies in 23 years.
That's another half-century for the Blackcaps and this time it's captain Tom Latham, bringing up his 31st Test half-century.
The openers are all over the West Indies, with their partnership this session hitting 50 after just 7.1 overs after lunch.
Fortunately for the visitors, the rain comes at the perfect time, putting the brakes on the Blackcaps opening onslaught.
The sun is out, and we are back underway at Bay Oval.
Devon Conway is seeing them well today, bringing up 14 boundaries in the innings as the openers continue to build on their impressive partnership.
And there's the century for Devon Conway.
He has really turned up the heat since lunch, bringing up Test century number six as the Blackcaps keep the pressure on.
The openers picked up 100 runs for the partnership just after lunch and have now brought up 200 before tea, emphasising the dominance NZ have had today.
Session two goes exceptionally for the Blackcaps, adding 133 to the total in just 29 overs before tea.
Tom Latham will look to join Devon Conway with a Test century when play resumes.
Blackcaps head to lunch on top in the Mount
Tom Latham's decision to bat first looks to be the right call early as the Blackcap openers begin to build a steady partnership at Bay Oval.
The first boundary comes in the ninth over as Latham spears it past point for four off a delivery from Kemar Roach.
A near run-out of Tom Latham in the 13th over proved the only real shakiness in the early goings, but an off-target toss made the recovery a bit easier for the Blackcaps captain.
One ball before drinks and the umpire heads upstairs to review another potential run-out after the stumps were disturbed.
Replay shows it was an easy decision after all and Devon Conway gets right back to work, lashing it away behind point for another boundary.
Blackcaps go into the drinks break 47-0.
After the break it's business as usual for the Blackcaps openers with no real test presenting itself.
Conway sends two Jayden Seales deliveries to the ropes in the 20th over as the opening partnership improves to 65-0.
That's all for the first session in the third Test at Bay Oval as the Blackcaps head into lunch 83-0 after 28 overs.
Devon Conway and Tom Latham get off to an ideal start under the Bay of Plenty sun as they both work toward their half-century mark after lunch.
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Blackcaps bat first at Bay Oval in third West Indies Test
The sun is out, the gates are open, and the crowd is filtering in at Bay Oval for the third Test of the West Indies series.
The West Indies side arrive in Mount Maunganui looking for redemption after a two-and-a-half day dismantling at the hands off the Blackcaps in the second test at the Basin.
Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell returns from his hamstring injury that kept him out of the Wellington test, while Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner and Blair Tickner are all out with injury.
Ajaz Patel is back for his first home test since February 2020. Canterbury quick Michael Rae is back after an impressive debut in the capital.
The West Indies make one change to their XI, with Alick Athanaze replacing Ojay Shields.
Tom Latham won the toss and has opted to bat first.
Join Sport Nation’s award-winning commentary team for live ball-by-ball coverage of the three-Test series between the Blackcaps and the West Indies - and subscribe to Cricket Nation on Spotify.
Third Test Teams
Blackcaps: Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Glenn Phillips, Zak Foulkes, Ajaz Patel, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae
West Indies: John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (C), Tevin Imlach (WK), Kemar Roach, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales
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