Kavem Hodge's ton leads West Indies' fightback on Day 3

West Indies have found key players stepping up on their tour of New Zealand. After Justin Greaves' double-hundred in Christchurch, Kavem Hodge delivered today, scoring his second Test century. He remains unbeaten on 109, helping West Indies avoid the follow-on late on Day 3 and keeping their hopes alive to save the Test. The visitors are 381 for 6, still trailing New Zealand's first innings total of 575 by 194 runs.

West Indies' openers aimed to build on their start, but Jacob Duffy dismissed John Campbell early, caught at slip without adding to his overnight score. Hodge broke the pressure with three boundaries in nine deliveries, but Duffy struck again, removing Brandon King who played across the line. After drinks, Hodge accelerated, hitting three consecutive fours off Michael Rae. Tevin Imlach started slowly but later hit a six over long-on off Ajaz Patel, followed by a boundary.

Hodge and Imlach brought up a 50-run partnership, with Hodge reaching his fifty as West Indies passed 200 by Lunch. After the break, Imlach fell, nicking one to the keeper. Alick Athanaze joined Hodge and scored briskly, hitting four boundaries off Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips in eight balls. However, he was dismissed unusually at 45, padding away a delivery from Ajaz that deflected off his leg onto the stumps.

Hodge and Justin Greaves added timely boundaries as West Indies moved past 300. New Zealand took the new ball immediately, but the pair took the team to Tea at 310 for 4.

After Tea, Hodge and Greaves attacked, with Greaves timing the ball superbly. However, Greaves was given LBW to a nip-backer and lost a review. Soon after, Ajaz Patel dismissed captain Roston Chase for 2. Hodge, in the nineties for 32 deliveries, survived a chance when a chip fell short of mid-off, and later copped blows to the body from Michael Rae. He finally reached his century on the stroke of Stumps.

Hodge and Anderson Phillip saw West Indies to Stumps at 381 for 6, still 194 runs behind.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 575 (Devon Conway 227, Tom Latham 137; Justin Greaves 2-83) lead
West Indies 381/6 (Kavem Hodge 109*, Brandon King 63; Jacob Duffy 2-79, Ajaz Patel 2-94) by 194 runs.