MOUNT MAGNANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Tom Latham made the rare decision to bat first after winning the toss before joining Devon Conway at lunch to lead New Zealand to 83 without a loss on the first day of the third Test against the West Indies.
Conway endured 28 runs in the first quarter and shot 42 at the break, while Latham had shot 39.
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The last time New Zealand elected to bat first in a home Test was in 2011, which is indicative of the bowl-first nature of New Zealand bowling in general.
But Latham looked at the grass-covered court and decided to pad the ball and hit the ball.
Latham pointed out in a television interview that the pitch at Bay Oval tends to favor spin bowlers in final Test matches, with New Zealand now avoiding the need to bat late.
New Zealand have named spinner Ajaz Patel for the first Test in five years. While Patel achieved the feat against India in 2021, becoming only the third player to take 10 wickets in a Test innings, he has rarely been the first choice at home.
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The pitch was buzzing with life earlier on Thursday, with Kemar Roach and Jayden Sears both having excellent first games with the new ball. Roach pitched six rounds and scored 12 points, while Sears pitched five rounds and scored 10 points.
Both took the ball away from the left-handers, especially those that curved outside off stump and appealed to Conway.
But Latham and Conway were restrained from the start. When the opportunity presented itself, both men played well off screens, with Conway also finding the boundary at the point guard.
After the first Test was drawn, New Zealand led 1-0 in the three-match series and the Black Caps won the second Test by nine wickets.
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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
