The 32-year-old was made to work for his milestone \u2013 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\u2019s final overs. <\/p>\n
Regardless, he\u2019ll return to the crease on day four, along with Anderson Phillip (12 not out) hoping to further reduce New Zealand\u2019s advantage.<\/p>\n
While the Black Caps\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Ajaz Patel celebrates his maiden wicket on New Zealand soil, against the West Indies at Bay Oval. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Expected to lead New Zealand\u2019s attack<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n Patel was ably supported by Jacob Duffy (2-79), who continues to lead an inexperienced bowling unit that is down to the bare bones<\/a> after a spate of injuries throughout the summer.<\/p>\n Resuming at 110 without loss<\/a>, 465 runs behind, the West Indies lost both openers to Duffy in the morning session. John Campbell didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n With the pitch giving the bowlers little to no assistance, fortune favoured the Black Caps as Patel struck to end Athanaze\u2019s 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\u2019s legs, back on to the stumps at 267-4.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s first innings in the process. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tom Latham, throwing the ball to Daryl Mitchell (1-9), was rewarded with the wicket of Greaves, who couldn\u2019t repeat his Christchurch heroics<\/a>, when he was trapped lbw for 43 and took an umpire review with him for good measure.<\/p>\n But after working through the nervous nineties \u2013 spending more than nearly 16 overs waiting to reach 100 \u2013 Hodge pulled Rae for four to raise his second test century in 224 deliveries.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n And as a short ball from Duffy was pulled to deep square leg by Hodge in the day\u2019s final over, the tourists\u2019 resolve means that the Black Caps will have to bat again in their push for victory.<\/p>\n New Zealand 575-8 declared (Conway 227, Latham 137; Greaves 2-83)<\/p>\n West Indies 381-6 (Hodge 109 not out, King 63; Duffy 2-79, Patel 2-94)<\/p>\n New Zealand lead by 198 runs<\/p>\nMichael Rae celebrates the wicket of West Indies’ Tevin Imlach at Bay Oval. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n