Record-making openers propel New Zealand into commanding position

Fresh of massive hundreds in the first innings, Tom Latham (101) and Devon Conway (100) continued to pile on the runs at the Bay Oval in the second innings on Day 4. The duo became the first pair of openers to register hundreds in both innings of a Test. After some quick cameos by Rachin Ravindra (46*) and Kane Williamson (40*), New Zealand declared on 306 for 2 in just 54 overs, setting West Indies a target of 462. John Campbell and Brandon King survived the initial test presented to them taking the tourists to Stumps at 43 for 0.

The morning began with Jacob Duffy removing overnight batter Anderson Phillip with a snorter which the batter only managed to nick behind to Tom Blundell. In his next over, he picked up Shai Hope who miscued a pull to fine-leg. Kavem Hodge took the visitors past 400 and put on a mini-partnership of 29 runs with Jayden Seales until the latter's 53-ball resistance of 15 came to an end when he nicked to the 'keeper off Ajaz Patel. Michael Rae picked up his second of the innings as Kemar Roach nicked behind as well, as the visitors were bowled for 420.

With a lead of 155 runs, Conway and Latham began their innings shouldering arms and dead-batting the new ball for the first five overs. Following on from his double-hundred, Conway swooped on anything overpitched and drove them through the covers to take New Zealand unharmed into the Lunch break. After Lunch, the openers attacked Roston Chase with all forms of sweeps - reverse, paddles and the slog-sweep - and found success. Conway brought up his 50 after dancing down the track to go over long-on. Latham too scored back-to-back boundaries off Chase as the runs continued to flow.

The 100-partnership was brought up by Latham with a drive through the covers for four before the openers pulled Seales for a four and a six. Latham moved to 50 soon as well, and they brought up the 150 within the 32nd over. The flow of runs dried up when Conway nurdled his way through the nineties but once he got to his 100 in the last over before Tea, Latham switched gears immediately. He scored a six and two fours in an 18-run over as New Zealand smashed 157 runs in just 28 overs in the middle-session.

Three balls after the break, Conway was caught by Seales off Hodge, a stunning catch at the deep, as West Indies finally got the breakthrough. Latham quickly brought up his hundred, the third of the series for him before falling in the next over, once again to a great catch from Seales and once again off Hodge's bowling. Williamson added some boundaries while Ravindra dealt only in sixes, smashing four sixes in his innings of 46. Ravindra and Williamson hit Chase for three sixes in a single over that cost 21 runs as the 50-partnership was up in no time. A 12-run over followed which took the hosts past 300 before the declaration was made.

With 16 overs to survive and on a good surface to bat on, West Indies began positively. King scored three boundaries off Zak Foulkes before repeating the feat against Duffy a few overs later. While King raced away with the runs, Campbell deadbatted and left a lot of deliveries as the openers remained unbeaten heading into Day 5. Campbell is on two off 50 balls while King is on 36 off 47. The visitors need 419 runs to win with all three results still possible.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 575 (Devon Conway 227, Tom Latham 137; Justin Greaves 2-83) & 306/2 d (Tom Latham 101, Devon Conway 100; Kavem Hodge 2-80) lead West Indies 420 (Kavem Hodge 123*, Brandon King 63; Jacob Duffy 4-86, Ajaz Patel 3-113) & 43/0 (Brandon King 37*, John Campbell 2*) by 418 runs.