Conway plunders rare triple century
Devon Conway had shifted to Wellington barely a month earlier when Michael Papps plundered a Basin Reserve record triple-century in October, 2017.
Two years on, the 28-year-old South African run machine who qualifies for Black Caps selection next September took ownership of the coveted mark with his own ‘‘goosebump moment’’ on a chilly, windswept morning.
After eight hours and five minutes at the crease against Canterbury, Conway had 327 not out, New Zealand’s sixth-highest first-class innings and a provincial and ground record.
Test bowlers Matt Henry and Todd Astle tried, but the only person who could stop Conway was Wellington skipper Michael Bracewell who declared with the hosts 525-7 on day two of the
Plunket Shield match.
‘‘I had a discussion with [Papps] two seasons ago about the 300 that he got and, to be honest, I never thought that was something I could achieve. It’s a massive total. So I’m pretty happy things went my way, pretty chuffed,’’ said Conway, politely agreeing to an interview at the lunch interval before he’d even taken guard at the buffet.
Resuming on 261 not out, his third first-class double-century, Conway was well rested and composed with Papps’ 316 not out in his sights.
The handful of spectators across the first two days were treated to a class act by Conway who should stroll into the Black Caps next season.
The Twenty20 World Cup in Australia is their first assignment before home tests against West Indies and Pakistan in late 2020.
The only question is who makes way, with Conway maintaining he can bat anywhere in the top-four.
With a watertight defence, steely determination to play the long game and a lethal flourish against the short ball, left-hander Conway has all the attributes. He hit 48 fours and five sixes in his Basin blitz at a strong clip.
Conway faced his 334th delivery when he punched Andrew
At a glance
Highest first-class scores on New Zealand soil:
■ 385: Bert Sutcliffe, Otago v Canterbury at Christchurch, 1952-53
■ 355: Bert Sutcliffe, Otago v Auckland at Dunedin, 1949-50
■ 338*: Roger Blunt, Otago v Canterbury at Christchurch, 1931-32
■ 336*: Walter Hammond, England v New Zealand at Auckland, 1932-33
■ 334: Dean Brownlie, ND v CD at New Plymouth, 2014-15
■ 327*: Devon Conway, Wellington v Canterbury at Wellington, 2019-20
■ 316*: Michael Papps, Wellington v Auckland at Wellington, 2017-18
■ 302: Brendon McCullum, NZ v India at Wellington, 2013-14
Hazeldine down the ground for three and his team-mates leapt to their feet. He became the eighth triple-century maker in New Zealand, to a raucous reception from the balcony and an embrace from batting partner Jamie Gibson.