Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling have defied Pakistan to increase New Zealand's lead to 126 runs on Sunday's third day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
Nicholls completed a patient half-century before tea and was unbeaten on 51 off 138 balls, while Watling was not out 43 off 111 deliveries with New Zealand reaching 4-200.
The pair came together after Hasan Ali (3-30) struck twice before lunch with the Black Caps just 34 runs ahead.
Nicholls and Watling batted resolutely in the mid-session against seam and spin in an unbeaten 92-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Nicholls survived a lbw appeal on 44 off legspinner Yasir Shah (1-85) when Pakistan unsuccessfully referred before the left-hander raised his 50 featuring three boundaries.
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Earlier, Hasan's twin blows in five deliveries toppled New Zealand's top order as Pakistan reduced the visitors to 4-108.
Watling survived the last over before lunch when he successfully reversed a lbw decision off Bilal Asif's offspin as replays showed the ball would have missed leg stump.
Hasan used reverse swing with perfection by nipping Ross Taylor (19) plumb in front. Four balls later, Jeet Raval's (46) resistance ended when he edged the right-arm fast bowler behind.
Left-handed Raval was aggressive against Shah when New Zealand resumed on 1-56 and quickly wiped off the first-innings deficit.
Raval used his feet well against Shah by hitting three boundaries in the leggie's first two overs. However, captain Safraz Ahmed persisted with Shah and the tweaker finally made the breakthrough.
Kane Williamson (37) added 10 to his overnight score of 27 before Shah bowled the skipper off a delivery that moved and tipped the off stump bail to break an 86-run second-wicket stand.
Taylor was also dominant against Shah, smashing three fours in one over - two cuts and one over mid-wicket.
