Kavem Hodge underlined his growing stature in Test cricket with a composed, unbeaten century as West Indies battled back on the third day of the third Test against New Zealand.
At the close of play, the visitors were 381 for 6, still trailing by 194 runs after New Zealand had earlier declared on a formidable 575 for 8. Hodge, ending the day on 109 not out, was at the crease alongside Anderson Phillip, who finished unbeaten on 12, giving West Indies hope of pushing the game deeper when play resumes on day 4.
Hodge’s innings marked his second Test hundred and came at a critical juncture, after West Indies had made several promising starts but failed to fully capitalise. Brandon King led the early resistance with a fluent 63, while John Campbell and Alick Athanaze both contributed 45. Justin Greaves added a solid 43, and wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach chipped in with 27, but none were able to convert into a defining score.
It was left to Hodge to provide the backbone of the innings, showing patience, discipline, and clarity of plan against a varied New Zealand attack in conditions that demanded application.
Speaking at the end of the day, Hodge expressed gratitude more than celebration.
“I’m grateful, to be honest,” he said. “As batsmen, our currency is runs, and I’m happy I was able to contribute to the team. I just want to thank God for giving me the strength and courage to spend that amount of time out in the middle.”
Hodge explained that careful preparation and self-belief were central to his success.
“It’s about understanding what I would receive here in New Zealand and coming up with a plan to combat it,” he noted. “One of my strengths is square of the wicket, so I tried to build on that, believe in myself, and stick to the process. Plan your work and work your plan.”
The century also represents a personal triumph after a difficult period out of the Test side following the Pakistan series. Hodge admitted that time away forced him to reassess and rebuild.
“Like any business, if you’re not producing, people move on,” he said. “So I had to work on things I felt I was missing, personally, spiritually, mentally, the whole package. I’m just glad I was able to put it all together for the team.”
Known for his work ethic, Hodge brushed off suggestions that he trains too hard, saying the demands of Test cricket leave no room for shortcuts.
“Test cricket is hard. You can’t just rock up and say you’re going to play Test cricket,” he said. “If you want to excel, it’s going to take work.”
The innings also carried special meaning for his home island. Hodge is only the second Dominican to score a Test century, following Irving Shillingford in 1977.
On the field, Hodge also played a mentoring role, guiding Anderson Phillip through a testing final session.
“It was about keeping his eye on the ball and managing the short ball,” Hodge explained. “We came up with a plan, me taking the pace, him taking the spin, and it worked well. Tomorrow we’ll just try to push on according to the game scenario.”
New Zealand – 575/8d
West Indies – (113ov) 381/6
Day 3 – West Indies trail by 194 runs.
