NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC):

Captain Chris Gayle's eighth Test century and first in three-and-a-half years gave West Indies a fighting chance in the decisive second Test yesterday, but the match remained tilted in New Zealand's favour ahead of the final day's play at McLean Park.

Gayle stroked a magnificent, unbeaten 146 that formed the bedrock of the tourists' 278 for seven, as they carved out a lead of 214 at the close of the fourth day of an absorbing encounter.

The left-handed opener, typically aggressive for the most part but sedate as Windies sought the safety of the close, batted the entire day to carry the Caribbean side on his shoulders and keep their hopes alive of winning the crucial Test.

Gayle, who had gone 47 Test innings without reaching three figures, slammed 13 fours and six mighty sixes in a knock that has so far lasted just over seven hours and required 325 balls.

The tall, hard-hitting Jamaican chose a good a time as any to break his drought, especially when West Indies found themselves in strife at 106 for four midway during the first session, after they had resumed the day at 62 for two.

He watched as Xavier Marshall (18) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (0) fell in successive deliveries to off-spinner Jeetan Patel (3-83), but found the ideal ally in Brendan Nash and together they repaired the Windies innings with a fifth-wicket stand of 124.

Perfect counter

Nash offered the perfect counter to Gayle's aggression with his unhurried, unflappable style and his 65 came in 200 minutes off 172 balls and included nine boundaries.

It was the Australia-born Jamaican's second half-century of the match following his first innings 74, but once again he fell when seemingly set for triple figures.

The partnership, which denied the Black Caps a wicket in the post-lunch session, proved to be the turning point for the Windies.

They added 40 prior to lunch as the visitors reached 146 for four and neither left-hander put a foot wrong during the next session as they posted a further 78 runs from the 33 overs sent down, to carry the Windies to 224 for four at tea, a lead of 160.

When Marshall edged Patel to Ross Taylor at slip and Chanderpaul uncharacteristically turned a full toss back to the bowler to depart the very next ball, Gayle slowed his advance and his second 50 required 124 balls.

The century was Gayle's first since his 317 against South Africa in May, 2005.

Fidel Edwards, dropped by How at second slip off O'Brien before he had scored, survived to the end unbeaten on one, to ensure the Windies carried their fight into the final day.

WEST INDIES 1st innings 307 (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 126 not out; Iain O'Brien 6-75)

NEW ZEALAND 371 (Tim McIntosh 136; Fidel Edwards 7-87)

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings

(overnight 62-2)

C Gayle not out 146

S Chattergoon c Taylor b Patel 25

R Sarwan lbw b Vettori 1

X Marshall c Taylor b Patel 18

S Chanderpaul c & b Patel 0

B Nash c How b Franklin 65

+D Ramdin c Flynn b Franklin 6

J Taylor lbw b O'Brien 8

F Edwards not out 1

Extras (lb1, w1, nb6) 8

TOTAL (7 wkts, 115 overs) 278

To bat: D Powell, S Benn.

Fall of wickets: 1-58 (Chattergoon), 2-61 (Sarwan), 3-106 (Marshall), 4-106 (Chanderpaul), 5-230 (Nash), 6-252 (Ramdin), 7-272 (Taylor).

Bowling: O'Brien 20-2-64-1 (nb4, w1), Mills 6-1-21-0 (nb1), Patel 35-13-83-3, Vettori 42-19-69-1 (nb1), Franklin 12-2-40-2.

Position: West Indies lead New Zealand 214 runs with three wickets in tact.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen, Amiesh Saheba; TV - Mark Benson.