Kane Wiliamson and Brendon McCullum lifted New Zealand to 3-123 at stumps on day three of the third and final Test against West Indies at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The tourists lead by 99 runs in the series decider after recovering from early strikes by the West Indies bowlers.
New Zealand were under pressure in their second innings until the unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 55 between Wiliamson and McCullum steadied the ship.
Both batsmen had their moments of good fortune but Williamson's unbeaten 58 and the captain's 23 not out have given their team a fighting chance of posting a competitive target.
Trailing by 24 runs after the West Indies were dismissed for 317 in their first innings, the Black Caps' top order wobbled against the threat posed by two home-grown fast bowlers.
Kemar Roach removed both opening batsmen to lift his career tally of Test wickets to 98.
Tom Latham miscued an attempted pull to midwicket before he had scored and Hamish Rutherford's poor run of form continued with an edge to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin when on 19.
Jason Holder, the debutant who went wicketless in the New Zealand first innings but contributed an important 38 runs in the West Indies reply, put the seal on a good day with the wicket of Ross Taylor with his first ball.
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