Hodge Holds Firm as West Indies Reach 310 for Four Against New Zealand

Mount Maunganui: Kavem Hodge remained the backbone of the West Indies innings with a resolute 83 as his side reached 310 for four at tea on day three of the third Test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, still trailing by 265 runs.

Hodge, who has faced 170 deliveries, will resume after the interval just 17 runs short of his second Test century. He was joined by Justin Greaves, who was unbeaten on 20. The right-hander rode his luck at times, edging safely past the slips on several occasions and surviving a dropped catch on 64 by Daryl Mitchell.

The middle session saw the fall of Tevin Imlach and Alick Athanaze, with spinner Ajaz Patel finally breaking a long-standing unwanted record. Patel claimed his first Test wicket on home soil with the dismissal of Athanaze, ending a drought that had stretched 2,562 days and 394 balls in New Zealand. The milestone wicket was Patel’s 86th in Test cricket.

New Zealand struck early after lunch when Imlach was dismissed for 27, caught behind off Michael Rae. Hodge and Athanaze then added 61 runs, with Athanaze looking fluent before a moment of hesitation saw him bowled by Patel while attempting to leave a delivery.

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Earlier in the day, the West Indies resumed on 110 without loss but lost John Campbell in the second over, edging Matt Duffy to second slip for 45. Duffy struck again soon after, bowling Brandon King for 63, ending a promising opening stand.

Hodge brought up his half-century before lunch, continuing his composed innings as the visitors attempted to close the gap on New Zealand’s massive first-innings total of 575 for eight, declared on Friday after centuries from Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham.