A cautious Windies crawled to 78-1 by the close on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe, in Bulawayo.
The tourists took 49 overs, in which they hit just six boundaries, to trim their first-innings deficit to 248 having bowled out Zimbabwe for 326 earlier in the day.
Opener Kieran Powell was unbeaten on 43 from 123 balls, along with nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, who has yet to score from 11 deliveries.
Zimbabwe opener Hamilton Masakadza extended his score to 147 from his overnight 101
Windies lost Kraigg Brathwaite (32 from 160 balls) 15 minutes before the close when he was caught by Hamilton Masakadza at slip off Graeme Cremer.
Zimbabwe had resumed on 169-4 after a rain-hit opening day, with Masakadza's 147 anchoring their knock and Sikandar Raza (80) and Peter Moor (52) posting half-centuries.
Windies, who won the first Test at the same venue by 117 runs, are seeking a first away Test series victory since a 2-0 triumph in Bangladesh in 2012