The 32-year-old was made to work for his milestone – edging short of second slip, through gully twice before he reached 20, and he was dropped at slip on 97 before being floored by a hit in the box in the day’s final overs.
Regardless, he’ll return to the crease on day four, along with Anderson Phillip (12 not out) hoping to further reduce New Zealand’s advantage.
While the Black Caps’ bowlers did what they could to prise out wickets, the highlight of the day for New Zealand came when Ajaz Patel ended a 2562-day wait to strike on home soil.
Ajaz Patel celebrates his maiden wicket on New Zealand soil, against the West Indies at Bay Oval. Photo / Photosport
Expected to lead New Zealand’s attack in conditions that should spin on days four and five, the recalled 37-year-old effectively had Alick Athanaze (45) kick the ball back on to his stumps and then trapped West Indies captain Roston Chase (2) lbw late in the day to finish with 2-94 from 33 overs.
Patel was ably supported by Jacob Duffy (2-79), who continues to lead an inexperienced bowling unit that is down to the bare bones after a spate of injuries throughout the summer.
Resuming at 110 without loss, 465 runs behind, the West Indies lost both openers to Duffy in the morning session. John Campbell didn’t add to his overnight score of 45 before he edged to Latham at second slip, while Brandon King pushed on to 63 before he was bowled after the ball ricocheted off his pads.
After getting the visitors to lunch without further loss, and reducing the deficit below 400, the promoted Tevin Imlach (27) was caught behind off Michael Rae (1-88) in the afternoon after adding 66 with Hodge.
With the pitch giving the bowlers little to no assistance, fortune favoured the Black Caps as Patel struck to end Athanaze’s stay for 45, after he and Hodge put on another 61 runs. A short delivery turning down leg side saw Athanaze attempt to get out of the way, only to hit his pad and go between the batter’s legs, back on to the stumps at 267-4.
But while it was hoped the new ball would trigger a West Indies collapse, the tourists continued to resist and moved within 300 runs of New Zealand’s first innings in the process.
On 310-4 at the start of the final session, Hodge drove Duffy to cover for a single that took him into the 90s, shortly after he and Justin Greaves raised their half-century together in 85 deliveries.
Michael Rae celebrates the wicket of West Indies’ Tevin Imlach at Bay Oval. Photo / Photosport
Tom Latham, throwing the ball to Daryl Mitchell (1-9), was rewarded with the wicket of Greaves, who couldn’t repeat his Christchurch heroics, when he was trapped lbw for 43 and took an umpire review with him for good measure.
But after working through the nervous nineties – spending more than nearly 16 overs waiting to reach 100 – Hodge pulled Rae for four to raise his second test century in 224 deliveries.
At the other end, Patel was denied a third wicket when Anderson Phillip edged behind to Blundell on two at 355-6, only for neither the bowler nor keeper to appeal, and then again when the same batter was dropped by Rae running back from mid-on at 372-6.
And as a short ball from Duffy was pulled to deep square leg by Hodge in the day’s final over, the tourists’ resolve means that the Black Caps will have to bat again in their push for victory.
New Zealand 575-8 declared (Conway 227, Latham 137; Greaves 2-83)
West Indies 381-6 (Hodge 109 not out, King 63; Duffy 2-79, Patel 2-94)
New Zealand lead by 198 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.