New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming had mixed feelings after leading from the front on the opening day in Barbados with a century against West Indies.

The left-hander has passed fifty on 37 occasions in Test cricket, but it was only the fourth time he had gone on to reach three figures.

His delight at his 130 out of a score of 257 for six was tempered by concern about the loss of four wickets for just 29 runs during the afternoon session, which enabled West Indies to regain the initiative.

"If we win the Test match, I'll rate it highly. If we don't win the Test, then I'm a few runs short," Fleming said of his innings.

"Obviously with my record, every century is crucial and it was nice today in a situation where the team needed it. Certainly, from a skipper's point of view, it's the way I always want to lead."

Fleming believes his poor conversion rate from 50 to 100 may be a result of failing to stay positive, but there was no sign of that this time as he collected 20 boundaries.

"I've got to 60 and 70 and got caught in two minds, but I'm finding a tempo to bat.

"I've got a lot of catching up to do. I've still got four or five years left at this level and the more (hundreds) I get, the better I'm going to get at it," he added.

Home fatigue

New Zealand have never won a Test match in the Caribbean and will be looking to not out pair, Robbie Hart and Daniel Vettori, to try and extend their score well past 300 with only the tail to come.

"They (West Indies) look a bit tired. The longer we keep them in the paddock, the better," said Fleming.

Opposite number Carl Hooper professed himself satisfied with his team's performance in the field after he opted to put New Zealand in.

"We bowled a number of four balls, but you have to give New Zealand credit. They showed they are fighters," he said.

Debutant paceman Darrell Powell had figures of nought for 33 from 14 overs. but Hooper believes the Jamaican did enough to suggest he is a good prospect for the future.

""I think he held his own. It wasn't an ideal surface to make his debut - he probably would have preferred a little bit more pace and bounce."