West Indies captain Chris Gayle (centre) leaves the field after he was dismissed for 197, caught by New Zealand's Brendon McCullum off the bowling of Jeetan Patel, on the fifth day of the second Test at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand, today (last night Jamaica time). - AP photos

NAPIER, New Zealand (AP)

Captain Chris Gayle made a superb 197 as the West Indies reached 375 in their second innings on the final day of the second cricket Test today (last night Jamaica time) setting New Zealand 312 in two sessions to win the match and series.

The West Indies resumed at 278 for seven, leading by 214 after erasing a 64-run first innings deficit, with Gayle 146 and Fidel Edwards one.

Gayle continued to build a majestic innings in a partnership of 70 for the eighth wicket with Edwards, leading his team away from the imminent possibility of defeat. The tall left-hander opened the West Indies innings on Monday and when he was finally out, in the 136th over when his team was 342 for eight, he had batted 8 1/2 hours and had hit 20 fours and seven sixes from the 396 balls he faced.

Every run Gayle scored diminished New Zealand's chances of victory and increased the likelihood of a tied two-match series after the first Test ended in a draw.

New Zealand started the final day in a slightly stronger position than the West Indies to force a result but as Gayle added 51 runs to his overnight score and as the tourists' lower order continued to provide stout resistance, their hopes of a win waned.

Gayle was finally out to a leg-side catch off off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who took 5 for 110 from 46 overs. He flicked the ball to leg and it first struck wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum on the foot before ballooning into the air and allowing McCullum to take the catch.

Edwards scored a valuable 20 while Daren Powell scored 22 from 37 balls, building the total New Zealand will chase in the last two sessions of the match.

West Indies captain Chis Gayle on the go during his magnificent 197 against New Zealand today (last night Jamaica time) on the fifth day of the second Test at McLean Park in Napier. - AP