Sri Lanka claimed six wickets in the final session to thwart West Indies' progress on day two of the second Test.
The home side dismissed the tourists for 278, with Chamara Silva top-scoring with 76 in Trinidad.
A typically cavalier innings from captain Chris Gayle (45) gave the West Indies a solid start, built on by captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (57).
But off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (3-64) stalled West Indies' charge as the hosts finished the day on 267-7.
The final session ended in complete contrast to the previous two as the West Indies faltered after dominating the day.
Fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Darren Powell ensured their openers had an early hit after wrapping up the final five Sri Lankan wickets for 61 runs.
Tillakaratne Dilshan had added four runs to his overnight score of 58 before he top-edged an attempted pull off Edwards into the hands of wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
Chaminda Vaas followed in similar fashion, this time off Powell, who collected his second wicket of the day when Dwayne Bravo took a fine diving catch at third man to remove Muralitharan.
606: DEBATE
And Silva's obdurate innings finally came to an end when he pulled hooked Bravo bouncer into the hands of Powell at deep square-leg.
Gayle maintained the West Indies' positive start, smashing nine boundaries in his 44-ball innings before he guided a Thushara delivery into the hands of Michael Vandort in the gully.
However, opening partner Sewnarine Chattergoon, batting on his Test debut, and Sarwan maintained the momentum, taking them to 133-1 at tea.
But the interval galvanised the tourists and Vaas made the vital breakthrough soon after, bowling Chattergoon four runs short of his debut half-century.
And Muralitharan, Test cricket's all-time leading wicket taker, then struck to remove Sarwan (57) and Marlon Samuels (3).
Bravo's cameo of 26 ended when he was trapped leg before by Ishara Amerasinghe.
Muralitharan set up an intriguing third day when he bowled Devon Smith with the final ball of the penultimate over.
West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan:
"I don't think at any point during your innings you can relax because there's always a bit of assistance there for the seam bowlers.
"We have three quality seamers, and if they put the ball in the right areas, we can put Sri Lanka under pressure."
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