Conway-Latham stand headlines Day 1 on a Bay Oval green-top

Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval presented a classic New Zealand green-top, indistinguishable in colour from the outfield. Despite the menacing appearance, Tom Latham chose to bat first. West Indies captain Roston Chase accepted the challenge, hoping his pace attack would make early inroads.

The West Indies quicks found movement in the air and off the pitch, beating the bats of Latham and Devon Conway repeatedly in an engaging first half-hour. However, the New Zealand openers weathered the early storm. After the initial eight overs, the West Indies bowlers lost their discipline, and the morning session became chanceless.

Conway and Latham took New Zealand to 83/0 at Lunch. They both notched their fifties soon after the break. Conway reached his in a single over from Kemar Roach, driving, pull-swiveling, and punching for three boundaries. Latham brought up his fifty three overs later, having carted Anderson Phillip for a six over fine-leg.

Play resumed after a brief rain delay, and the pair casually continued their dominance. West Indies lost all control in the middle session, bowling 29 overs without a maiden. The openers, who had scored 83 in the first session, added 133 in the second. Boundaries flowed easily as Chase looked out of ideas.

Against the spinner, Conway drove a full delivery to bring up his sixth Test hundred. His only moment of concern came when a Jayden Seales delivery kicked off a length and struck his forearm, but he shook it off after treatment.

After Tea, Roach beat Latham convincingly but without reward. Latham instead reached his 15th Test century with a boundary off Roach. West Indies' frustration was compounded when wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach spilled an edge from Latham off Phillip's bowling.

The pair brought up 300 shortly before the new ball was due. West Indies took it in the 84th over, and it finally brought a breakthrough. Roach, from round the wicket, got one to straighten and take Latham's outside edge. A diving, low catch by Chase at first slip ended the partnership at 323 runs—the joint-12th highest opening stand in Test history.

Devon Conway remained unbeaten on 178 at stumps, with the prospect of a double century on Friday.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 334/1 (Devon Conway 178*, Tom Latham 137; Kemar Roach 1-63) vs West Indies