West Indies resumed the day looking to build on a promising opening stand, but early pressure from New Zealand paid dividends. Jacob Duffy struck immediately, tempting John Campbell into an expansive drive that resulted in a simple edge to slip, leaving the opener stranded on his overnight score. The hosts tightened the screws, but Hodge responded decisively, breaking the shackles with three boundaries across nine deliveries to restore momentum.
Duffy struck again within the opening hour, removing Brandon King, who played across the line and paid the price. The innings steadied when Hodge found support from Tevin Imlach. After a cautious start, Imlach announced himself with authority, launching Ajaz Patel over long-on for six before following it up with a crisp boundary. The pair built a vital 50-run partnership, with Hodge reaching his half-century as West Indies crossed 200 just before lunch.
After the interval, New Zealand applied control through a pair of maidens before Imlach’s concentration lapsed, edging a delivery outside off-stump to the wicketkeeper. Hodge was then joined by fellow Dominican Alick Athanaze, who began brightly and gradually took on the scoring responsibility. Athanaze attacked Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips, striking multiple boundaries in quick succession and racing into the forties.
However, his innings ended in extraordinary fashion. Attempting to pad away a delivery drifting down the leg side from Ajaz, the ball deflected off the inner part of his leg and clipped the bails, handing the spinner his first Test wicket at home after 22 matches. By then, Athanaze had made a valuable 45, further denting New Zealand’s control.
Hodge continued to anchor the innings alongside Justin Greaves, and timely boundaries took West Indies beyond 300. New Zealand opted for the second new ball as soon as it became available, with Duffy extracting movement, but the West Indian pair negotiated the phase to reach tea at 310 for 4.
The final session began with a flurry of boundaries, Hodge pulling confidently and Greaves driving fluently through the off side, particularly off Zakary Foulkes. Greaves looked in complete control before a nip-backer struck him on the pads, resulting in an LBW dismissal despite a review. New Zealand capitalised on the moment as Ajaz Patel removed captain Roston Chase cheaply.
Hodge survived a scare when a lofted shot fell just short of mid-off and then endured a testing spell of short-pitched bowling alongside Anderson Phillip. Showing patience and resolve, Hodge navigated 32 tense deliveries in the nineties before reaching his hundred on the stroke of stumps, remaining unbeaten on 109.
At the close of play, West Indies stood at 381 for 6, still 194 runs behind New Zealand’s first-innings total of 575 for 8. Hodge’s determined knock not only prevented the follow-on but also injected belief into the visitors’ camp, setting up a crucial Day 4 where resilience and time will define their hopes of salvaging the Test.
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