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Devon Conway climbs an elite list! Most runs for a New Zealand player in a single Test match

Mayank

Conway scored 327 runs vs WI [Source: Kiwiscricketfan, JosePuliampatta, cricket_broken/X.com]Conway scored 327 runs vs WI [Source: Kiwiscricketfan, JosePuliampatta, cricket_broken/X.com]

The final Test between New Zealand and West Indies at the Bay Oval saw several batting records tumbling throughout the course of the first four days, as the Kiwi openers put on a batting masterclass in both innings, scoring twin centuries each and accumulating over 500 runs between them.

One of the key instigators in the Blackcaps' domination over the Caribbean in the Test was Devon Conway, who scored over 300 runs in the match. Here's a look at the batters with the most runs for New Zealand in a Test match.

5. Kane Williamson vs Sri Lanka, 2015 - 311 runs

Just making it to the top-5, with only 1 run more than Brendon McCullum's 310 runs against India in 2014, the New Zealand number 3 scored 311 runs against the touring Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test in Wellington, 2015. While batting first, the Kiwis lost Tom Latham cheaply, followed by constant wickets from one end, when Williamson stuck to one side and added a crucial 69(115), with 9 fours to guide the team to 221 runs

As the Lankans took a healthy 135-run lead through Kumar Sangakkara's 203, Williamson once again stood up for the hosts and scored a marathon 242(438) and stitched a 365*(674) stand with centurion BJ Watling. They scored 524/5 (d) and won the match by 193 runs.

4. Ross Taylor vs Australia, 2015 - 326 runs

During the second Trans-Tasman Test of 2015 at the W.A.C.A, New Zealand had a task at their hands after Australia's 559/9 (d) first innings score, and early wickets of the openers. Ross Taylor and Williamson joined for a 265-run partnership to rescue the team, before the latter got out for 166(250). Taylor went on to bat till the end and missed the triple century by just 10 runs, getting dismissed by Nathan Lyon at 290(374) to take the team to 624 runs.

Thanks to the centuries from Steve Smith and Adam Voges, the visitors were asked to chase 321 runs, but with under a day left, the match was drawn and Taylor added another 36 runs to his match tally to take it to a whopping 326.

3. Devon Conway vs West Indies, 2025 - 327 runs

After taking a lead in the series in Wellington, the Kiwis batted first at the Bay Oval, and the openers went on to put up a marathon 323-run partnership. While Latham got out at 137, Conway scored a 227 off 367, with 31 fours to his name in the first innings and they finished with 575/8 (d). West Indies showed resilience through 123(275) from Kavem Hodge to reach 420 and avoided a follow-on.

The NZ openers again added 192 for the first wicket before Conway was dismissed by Hodge for 100(139). He took his match tally to 327 runs and just went past Taylor's record to join the elite list of batters.

2. Martin Crowe vs Sri Lanka, 1991 - 329 runs

As NZ batted first at the Basin Reserve in the first match of their 1991 series against the Lankans, they were bundled for just 174 runs, while captain Martin Crowe scored 30(71). Aravinda de Silva scored a massive 267(380) in response and helped the visitors take a 323-run lead in the match. With backs against the wall, NZ openers, John Wright (88) and Trevor Franklin (39) started well but were dismissed in quick succession and the score read 148/2.

Skipper Crowe and Andrew Jones took matters into their own hands and added a then record 467-run stand for the third wicket. Jones got out for 186(454), but Crowe marched towards a triple century; however, missed it by a whisker, getting out at 299(523), with 29 fours and three sixes. His 329 runs in the match remained the record for the most runs for NZ in a Test for over 12 years before the future skipper Stephen Fleming broke it in 2003.

1. Stephen Fleming vs Sri Lanka, 2003 - 343 runs

In the first Test of their tour to Sri Lanka in 2003, New Zealand batted first in Colombo and lost opener Matt Horne early in the innings. Captain Stephen Fleming walked in at 20/1 and carried the bat until they decided to declare at 515/7. He added 172 runs with Mark Richardson (85) and 157 with Scott Styris (63) and finished with an unbeaten 274(476) on Day 2 — selflessly declaring when he could have scored a triple hundred.

They got SL all out for 483 runs, taking a lead of 132 runs and Fleming opened, citing a hamstring injury to Richardson and scored an unbeaten 69(234) to draw the Test match. His unbeaten 343 runs still remain the most runs scored by a New Zealand batter in a Test match.