Auckland: The West Indies on Saturday batted and bowled themselves into a strong position to break a streak of six straight test-match losses.
On the third day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at Eden Park, openers Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga kept their wickets intact for more than an hour before stumps to leave the tourists 48 without loss when play ended.
The Caribbean side needs 243 more runs to win the match with two days remaining and 10 second-innings wickets still standing.
The West Indies left themselves a steep target of 291 for victory when they bowled out New Zealand for 272 in its second innings after the home side had gained an 18-run first innings lead.
New Zealand made 275 batting first and the West Indies were dismissed for 257 in reply as 24 wickets fell in the match's first six sessions.
The West Indies took the upper hand in the first session on Saturday, claiming three wickets, including the key scalp of captain Stephen Fleming to reduce New Zealand to 161 for seven by lunch.
Wicketkeeper Brendan McCullum led the home side's fightback in the second session of a day on which each team's fortunes see-sawed.
His innings of 74, in partnerships of 64 with Daniel Vettori (33) and 62 with Shane Bond (18 not out), carried New Zealand to a competitive total and made the West Indies' run chase more onerous.
If they reach their winning target on Sunday only one team --the West Indies side of 1968-69 -- will have scored more to win a Test match on the Auckland ground.
McCullum had to curb his attacking instinct, playing an innings of restraint and discipline, particularly after running out Nathan Astle for 13 to cost New Zealand its last specialist batsman.
He still peppered his innings with five fours and a hooked six and showed the nuggety nature which has brought him two centuries and three half-centuries in a short test career.
"It was certainly not the crash, bash innings I'm used to playing," McCullum said.
"With three days left, it needed us to knuckle down and after running out Nathan (Astle) I had to show a bit of responsibility and get us through to a good total. We needed to put a competitive total on the board and I think 290's a good score, although at 48-0 I guess it's game on tomorrow."
Gayle and Ganga seemed relatively untroubled in reaching 28 and 20 not out respectively before stumps.
Vettori, whose two wickets in the West Indies' first innings were his first on Eden Park in six years, is likely to be the key to the New Zealand bowling performance.
Brian Lara, who made only five in the first innings, looms as the vital cog in the West Indies' batting.
The Caribbean side has lost 13 of its last 15 test matches and 19 of its last 22 One-Dayers. Its last overseas test win over an opponent of note came at England's expense six years ago.
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