Thu 18 Dec ’25 by KRISSANIA YOUNG
New Zealand 334 for 1 (Conway 178*, Latham 137, Roach 1-63) vs West Indies
On the eve of the Third Test in Mount Maunganui, captain Roston Chase confirmed that West Indies would replace the fifth seamer in their playing XI of the Wellington Test with a batsman. Chase noted that the visitors thought the faster bowlers “will be a bit more dangerous” at the Bay Oval.
Fast forward to stumps on Day 1, where centuries from Devon Conway and Tom Latham have taken New Zealand to 334 for 1. The number in the wickets column in particular would have been difficult to imagine given the way the Caribbean bowlers started the day.
Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales kept the Black Caps openers quiet and alert for the first 40 minutes of the Test, encouraging dodgy turnovers, plays and misses. They were unlucky not to break through early.
New Zealand’s first boundary came in the ninth over, with just 16 runs on the board. With boundary balls becoming more common and the threat of the Windies attack becoming less potent, the hosts posted 83 runs at the lunch break.
If there was any difference in the afternoon, it was that New Zealand accelerated the scoring rate to 4.59 runs per over in the session. Conway (178*) brought up his century in 147 balls, with his 17th four off the innings.
Captain Latham (137) had to wait until the final session for his hundred, as did West Indies for their first real chance of the day. However, Tevin Imlach failed to maintain Latham’s lead at 104.
West Indies delayed taking the new ball until the 84th. Three overs later, Roach had the New Zealand captain left behind by his opposite number, Chase.
Nightwatchman Jacob Duffy (9*) was lucky to survive to stumps, but survived. He returns on day 2 with Conway.
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