Pakistan moved to the brink of victory in the first Test in Abu Dhabi as New Zealand ended day four on 174-8 after being set a daunting 408.

A ninth wicket stand of 36 between Mark Craig (27) and Ish Sodhi (27) held up Pakistan before the close, though the tourists still require another 306 in the series opener.

Spinners Zulfiqar Babar (2-30) and Yasir Shah (2-49), along with seamer Rahat Ali (2-38), claimed two wickets apiece.

Skipper Brendon McCullum made 39, putting on an opening stand of 57 with first-innings centurion Tom Latham (20).

However once the pair departed in quick succession - falling in successive overs just before tea - the New Zealand second innings rather subsided in a hurry.

Ross Taylor also departed before the break, trapped lbw by Yasir for eight, though Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson both contributed 23 as they shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 42.

Quick wickets

Pakistan, though, opened up the possibility of completing the win with a day to spare by picking up three quick wickets in the space of just five balls.

Mohammad Hafeez had Williamson stumped while Rahat dismissed Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling off successive deliveries before either batsman had troubled the scorers.

Imran Khan then had Anderson leg before as the batsman offered no stroke to a straight delivery, while Babar cleaned up Tim Southee for five.

Craig and Sodhi held firm for 14.5 overs through to the close, though it seems their efforts are only a case of delaying the inevitable.

Pakistan had earlier declared their second innings on 175-2, Hafeez making up for narrowly missing out a on a century first time around with a fine knock of 103.

The opener, who was caught and bowled for 96 on the opening day, hit two sixes and 12 boundaries as he recorded his 12 Test century and his first since making 196 against Sri Lanka in July 2012.
(Sky Sports)