A late flurry of wickets pulled back the first cricket Test for New Zealand as the West Indies eased to 442-6 at stumps on the third day at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday (NZT).
The Black Caps' bowlers regrouped with four wickets in the last session after an intimidating start from returning opener Chris Gayle and Kieron Powell put on 254 for the first wicket.
Narsingh Deonarine on 54 and Darren Sammy with eight steadied the innings to give the hosts a 91-run lead with two days remaining.
Although both Gayle and Powell were dismissed early in the afternoon session, their efforts set up the West Indies for an intimidating total.
Gayle was in typically destructive form, blasting 17 fours and four sixes in his 150 before he was removed in the third over after lunch, clubbing Kane Williamson to Brendon McCullum at long off.
Powell was slightly more circumspect in accumulating 134 and his dismissal, edging a wide delivery behind to keeper Kruger van Wyk, gave South Africa-born paceman Neil Wagner his first Test wicket.
Veteran pace bowler Chris Martin struck with two quick wickets after tea to give New Zealand some hope, first removing Marlon Samuels for 29 with the last ball of his first over after tea.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul went with the first ball of Martin's next over, gloving a shortish delivery to the safe hands of van Wyk.
Deonarine survived the hat-trick ball, and the West Indies rolled on, regathering momentum until Kane Williamson picked up his second wicket when Assad Fudadin miscued a fullish ball and was caught by McCullum at deep mid off for 55.
Doug Bracewell picked up a late wicket, bowling Denesh Ramdin for three before Sammy and Deonarine dug in to see the West Indies safely through to stumps.
NZN