Kavem Hodge scored his second Test hundred on Saturday as West Indies reached 381 for 6 at stumps on day three of the third Test at Mount Maunganui. The visitors stayed 194 runs behind New Zealand and avoided the follow on.
Hodge took his time to reach the landmark. He got there from 224 balls. He hit 12 fours. He was dropped on 74 by Daryl Mitchell at slip off Ajaz Patel.
The 32 year old then had a long wait in the 90s. He faced 33 balls in that phase. Play stopped for a while when a ball from Michael Rae struck him in a painful spot. He moved on soon after.
Hodge shared key stands through the day. He added 81 runs with Justin Greaves. He also put on half century partnerships with Tevin Imlach and Alick Athanaze. He finished the day unbeaten on 109. Anderson Phillip was the other batter not out on 12.
New Zealand found a lift from an unlikely bowler. Mitchell trapped Greaves lbw for 43. It was only his fourth Test wicket in his 35th match.
Soon after, batting became harder. Roston Chase came in and went out quickly. Patel trapped him lbw. West Indies later said Shai Hope did not bat due to food poisoning. Kemar Roach, who hurt his hamstring on day one, was available to bat if needed.
Phillip survived two close calls. He edged Patel to Tom Blundell when on two, but New Zealand did not appeal. He was then dropped on eight at mid on off Patel’s bowling.
Jacob Duffy finished with 2 for 79 from 31 overs. Patel took 2 for 94 from 33 overs. One of those wickets ended a long wait. It was Patel’s first Test wicket at home. It came with his 394th ball in New Zealand and more than 2,500 days after his first home Test.
New Zealand struck just after lunch. Imlach fell for 27, caught behind off Rae. Hodge and Athanaze then added 61 runs. Athanaze looked fluent as he drove and flicked with ease. On 45, he made a mistake. He tried to leave a ball down the leg side. It clipped his thigh and hit the stumps.
West Indies had resumed the day on 110 without loss. They added only one run before Duffy struck. John Campbell edged to Tom Latham at second slip without adding to his overnight 45. It ended the first West Indies opening stand of 100 in Tests since February 2023.
Duffy struck again soon after. He bowled Brandon King for 63. King had started the day on 55.
New Zealand had declared their first innings on Friday at 575 for 8. The innings was built around Devon Conway who made 227 and captain Tom Latham who scored 137.
