The Blackcaps have clinically compiled a 117-run lead at lunch on day four of the second test against Pakistan on Thursday.
Ish Sodhi ensured there'd be no tail wag by the hosts, snaring Abrar Ahmed in the first over of the day to end Pakistan's first innings at 408 and give the New Zealanders a 41-run advantage. Saud Shakeel finished unbeaten on 125.
Sodhi backed up his superb first test with 3/95 from 27 overs, with spin cohort Ajaz Patel claiming 3/88 off 17.
After losing first innings centurion Devon Conway to a golden duck, Tom Latham (37no) and Kane Williamson (29no) dug in to end the first session with a 71-run partnership from 143 deliveries.
The Karachi wicket has offered little turn for the spinners, with the duo looking comfortable at the crease.
Williamson survived a couple of poor LBW reviews off the bowling of Ahmed, one pitching outside leg with impact outside the stump, and the second an over later that was also clearly missing leg stump.
A result seems dependent on whether either bowling line-up can extract enough from a relatively lifeless pitch to take the requisite number of wickets, with a series win at stake after the opening test draw.
The Blackcaps are chasing just their third test win on Pakistan soil, with their most recent dating back to 1996.
