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Latham and Ravindra power Blackcaps to massive lead over West Indies
Sport Nation • December 4th, 2025 11:05 am
Latham and Ravindra's partnership lasted 279 runs | Photo: Photosport
A monster partnership from captain Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra has put the Blackcaps in a commanding position heading into Day 4. New Zealand started the day with a 96-run lead over the West Indies, a lead that has now ballooned to 481.
Ravindra and Latham continued their commanding stroke play, quickly taking New Zealand past a 300-run lead to start the final session of Day 3.
Ravindra moved to 87 with the first six of the series, pummelling a pull to deep midwicket in the 65th over. Having been dropped earlier in the day on 8 and 13, he soon joined Latham with a century of his own off just 103 balls, his fourth Test hundred and second in New Zealand.
With the first ball of the 74th over, Ravindra helped the Blackcaps’ total pass 300, taking his partnership with Latham past 200.
Dominance for New Zealand and frustrations for the West Indies continued, and by the drinks break at the end of the 80th over, the Blackcaps were 340 for 2, with Latham on 132 not out and Ravindra 143 not out, their partnership now 241.
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The teams returned with a new ball, offering hope for the West Indian attack, but Ravindra’s special innings continued. He cracked another four to reach 150 at a strike rate of 100, taking the partnership past 250.
In a session full of milestones, Latham moved to 144, bringing up his 6,000th Test run.
By the 86th over, their partnership of 273 moved into the top 10 Blackcaps Test stands of all time.
The 279-run partnership finally ended in the 88th over when Latham was caught behind off Kemar Roach for 145.
The Hagley Oval crowd, along with Roach, showed their respect. As Daniel McHardy said, “He has put New Zealand in a winning position, no doubt about that.”
Will Young, who had waited long for his chance, smashed a four off his first ball. The Blackcaps passed 400 in the 91st over, extending their lead to 464, with Young scoring confidently at 20 from 11 balls.
Ravindra’s fantastic innings came to an end with the first ball of the 93rd over, a superb delivery from Ojay Shields, finishing on 176 from 185 balls. Michael Bracewell then joined Will Young as the Blackcaps settled at 410 for 4.
Michael Bracewell (6 no) and Will Young (21 no) will continue the batting when play continues tomorrow at 11am NZDT.
Blackcaps dominate second session through Latham and Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra came in at to face the first ball of the session - the last ball of the 33rd over after Williamson’s dismissal before lunch - and immediately made his presence felt, cracking a beautifully timed four down the ground, followed by another into the gap behind point.
He was almost put down twice, first by Roach in the 36th over with a stunning one-handed stretch and again at the close of the 38th over off Greaves, who was left fuming after a sitter went down. By then, Ravindra had reached 15 from 15 balls.
Latham continued his masterclass, bringing up his 32nd Test fifty in the 42nd over to a applause from his home crowd.
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A big appeal from a vicious Seales in-swinger in the 44th over went to review but was saved by the ball pitching outside leg, costing the West Indies a review.
By the second drinks break at the end of the 47th over, New Zealand were 163-2, with Latham on 64 not out and Ravindra 39 not out, leaving the Windies frustrated after two dropped catches and a lost review.
Ravindra brought up his fifth Test fifty in the 50th over, 53 from 52 balls, with his ninth four of the innings.
In the 54th over, another Ravindra four took New Zealand to 200 and marked the 100-run partnership with Latham. Latham then went on the attack, hitting Shields for back-to-back fours to reach 89, before a glorious drive and a quick three runs allowed him to bring up his 14th Test century and first against the West Indies just before tea.
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New Zealand go to the break with Latham unbeaten on 100 and Ravindra on 70, looking to continue their commanding partnership and build on the 297 run lead after tea.
Blackcaps lead shaken as West Indies strike twice before lunch
What began as a commanding morning for New Zealand ended with a flurry of late drama that breathed new life into the West Indies.
Latham and Conway had built a strong opening stand, reaching 50 in the 16th over and taking the Blackcaps to 63-0 at the first drinks break.
Latham’s calm defence and class, alongside Conway’s proactive strokeplay, kept the innings firmly in New Zealand’s control.
The first signs of resistance came in the 24th over when Seales forced an edge from Latham, though the ball fell safely in front of second slip.
Conway then picked up another boundary before being dismissed at square third for 37, breaking the opening partnership at 84.
Kane Williamson joined Latham at the crease and helped push the Blackcaps past 100, but the session’s final moments brought unexpected drama.
On the very last ball before lunch, Williamson was caught behind off Kemar Roach, giving the West Indies their second breakthrough and injecting momentum into the contest.
New Zealand go to lunch with a lead of 164 runs, Latham unbeaten on 40, and Ravindra suspected to join him after the break.
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Blundell confirmed out as Day 3 gets underway
NZ Cricket has confirmed that wicketkeeper Tom Blundell has sustained a tear to his right hamstring after the injury he picked up on Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies at Hagley Oval.
As a result, Blundell has been ruled out of the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, set to begin on 10 December.
The Blackcaps have called up Mitchell Hay, who will join the squad in Wellington on Sunday, 7 December, to provide cover for Blundell during the second Test.
Blundell’s absence means that Tom Latham will continue in the wicketkeeping role for the remainder of the match.
Latham (14 no), along with Devon Conway (15 no), will look to build on the Blackcaps' 96-run lead in the second innings.
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, the first Test continues on the Sport Nation app and all New Zealand frequencies.
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