How scored 54 in the Kiwis' second innings

New Zealand had to settle for a draw in both the second Test and the series after failing to reach their target of 312 to beat the West Indies in Napier.

Chris Gayle's 197 helped the visitors build a decent lead, and the task was beyond the Kiwis despite a good start.

Half centuries by Jamie How and Jesse Ryder gave them hope but once Ryder and Ross Taylor's fourth-wicket stand of 74 was over, a draw was inevitable.

Stumps were drawn with nine overs left and the Kiwis 220-5, 92 shy of victory.

The West Indies can thank Gayle for still being in the match at all.

In their second innings, he hit 197, the highest score ever seen at McLean Park, to guide his team from an overnight position of 278-7, a lead of 214, to something more secure.

His 514-minute innings, which took him past the 5000 Test runs milestone, saw him share partnerships of 124 with Brendan Nash (65) and 70 with Fidel Edwards (20), before he was caught out by Brendon McCullum off the bowling of Jeetan Patel.

606: DEBATE Good to see WI finally drawing a Test series away from home shivfan

At 170-3 in the 38th over, with Taylor and Ryder looking solid and more than 22 overs remaining to score 142, they looked to be in with a chance.

But Taylor's dismissal for 46 off 50 balls reduced their momentum, and the fifth-wicket pairing of McCullum and Ryder added 33 before McCullum was judged caught behind for 19.

He challenged umpire Rudi Koertzen's decision and it was referred for reappraisal to television umpire Mark Benson, who was unable to reach a conclusive decision and returned the matter to Koertzen, whose original decision stood.

Replays showed McCullum had not come close to hitting the ball, but this seemed to have stopped the Kiwi revival in its tracks, and from there they sought to play out time.

"This is an achievement for us to get a draw," said Gayle.

"We would have liked to win, obviously, but to get a draw in these circumstances is still an achievement."

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori admitted he was frustrated but could take positives from the result.

"It was a much better performance from us and, while we're not entirely happy with a draw, if we continue to perform to that level we will pick up a Test win sometime this summer," he said.

• Former England all-rounder Dermot Reeve will work with the New Zealand team as a bowling coach for the Twenty20 matches against West Indies on 26 and 28 December.

• Former New Zealand batsman Mark Greatbatch has been appointed an an advisor to the national team selectors. He will monitor the performances of players in state cricket.

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