Kusal Mendis finished unbeaten on 96 as Sri Lanka were left needing 277 more runs on the final day for victory in the first Test against West Indies.
Opener Mendis hit two sixes and nine fours in his 186-ball knock as Sri Lanka reached 3-176 by the close on the fourth day having been set a massive target of 453 in Port of Spain.
The West Indies, who had earlier resumed on 4-131, a 360-run lead, declared at the end of the 72nd over on 7-223, thanks to Kieran Powell's 88 and skipper Jason Holder's 39.
Sri Lanka opener Kusal Perera was dismissed for 12 in the fourth over and captain Dinesh Chandimal was forced to retire in the 12th while on 15 after feeling unwell.
Angelo Mathews was caught by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich off Holder in the 44th over for 31 to leave the tourists on 2-123, but Mendis appeared undaunted.
He and Roshen Silva took Sri Lanka's score on to 175 before the latter was caught and bowled for 14 by Devendra Bishoo in the penultimate over before fading light forced an early finish.
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