A record-breaking century from Tom Latham has seen the Blackcaps to lunch on day three of the first test against Pakistan in Karachi.
The Blackcaps ended the first session on 245-2, losing two wickets but scoring 80 runs and, most importantly, avoiding the follow-on mark to ensure Pakistan will have to bat again.
Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls are the not-out batters at the interval, unbeaten with 19 and 10 respectively, with a so-far unbroken stand of 14 runs for the third wicket.
Resuming on 78 after his unbeaten innings on day two, Latham scored the 22 runs required to move to his 13th test century - the most by a New Zealand opening batter.
Latham's hundred takes him clear of the former opener and ex-Blackcaps coach John Wright, who scored 12 centuries at the top of the New Zealand order.
The innings, complete with nine boundaries at the time Latham reached 100, was the 30-year-old's third test century against Pakistan after scores of 137 and 103 in the UAE in 2014.
Latham's knock was built on the back of a partnership worth 183 runs with Devon Conway, who himself fell for 92 in the first session of the third day - trapped lbw by Nauman Ali after an umpire review.
While Latham and Conway's stand broke the record for New Zealand's highest opening partnership in Pakistan, the duo fell three runs short of equalling the Blackcaps' all-time record for any wicket - set by Sir Richard Hadlee and Warren Lees in 1976 - also in Karachi.
The pair's 183-run stand ate away a large chunk of Pakistan's first innings of 438, as the hosts threatened to undo the Blackcaps with their spin attack.
Conway's 92 runs also saw him become the fastest New Zealander to the mark of 1000 test runs in his 18th innings - although teammate Daryl Mitchell has the chance to do the same in this test, should he score 59 or more.
But for all their brilliance on the second day, neither Latham nor Conway survived until lunch and left the job up to the middle order to see the Blackcaps eat into Pakistan's lead.
On 13, Williamson was judged lbw to Abrar Ahmed but quickly reviewed as replays confirmed an inside edge before the ball hit the pad, giving the former captain a reprieve.
Pakistan are also without regular captain Babar Azam, who is said to be suffering from "viral flu", and did not take the field in the first session of day three.
Pakistan 438 (Babar 161; Southee 3/69) New Zealand 245/2 (Latham 113, Conway 92; Naumal 1/73).
