Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Fast bowler Trent Boult's twin strikes pegged Pakistan to 114-4 at tea after New Zealand set a tricky target of 261 runs on the last day of the second test on Friday.
Pakistan still needs 147 runs in a maximum 28 overs left, with Younis Khan batting on 30 and Asad Shafiq 11 not out.
Offspinner Mark Craig triggered a Pakistan collapse when Azhar Ali hit a full toss straight to covers after putting on 62 runs with Shan Masood, 40.
Boult had Masood lbw off a vicious yorker, and in his next over captain Misbah-ul-Haq was caught behind for nought as Pakistan slipped to 75-4.
Earlier, Kiwis captain Brendon McCullum made a bold declaration at 250-9 for an overall lead of 260 runs with Ross Taylor scoring a brilliant 104.
Taylor returned to form after scores of 0, 8 and 23 to make 104 off 133 balls, his first test century of the year.
Taylor added 60 invaluable runs with Craig (34) after New Zealand resumed at the overnight 167-6 before both fell to Yasir Shah (5-79) in the space of three deliveries to give the legspinner his first five-wicket haul in only his fourth test match.
New Zealand looked for quick runs to press its bid and level the three-match series on a turning pitch after losing the first test by 248 runs last week.
Craig got away with a dropped catch when left-arm fast bowler Rahat Ali found a thick outside edge in his second over and Umar spilled a low, two-handed catch at first slip.
Taylor was on 85 when he survived an lbw appeal in the next over, as he played Zulfiqar Babar (4-96) on the back foot and Pakistan went for an unsuccessful television referral.
Taylor, who scored his last test century against the West Indies at Hamilton in December 2013, completed his first test hundred against Pakistan off 129 balls when he pushed Ehsan Adil to midwicket and ran a single.
He also joined former captain John Wright at 12 test centuries, five behind Martin Crowe's New Zealand record.
New Zealand made its intent clear for declaration when Craig hoisted Babar over midwicket for a big six before he holed out in the deep off Shah.
A ball later, Taylor didn't wait for the TV umpire's decision and walked back when he was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed.
Southee smashed three successive sixes off Babar and pushed the lead beyond the 250-run mark before he skied a simple catch and McCullum declared the innings.
Southee struck immediately with the ball and found the outside edge of Taufeeq Umar's bat as the left-hander made a disappointing return to international cricket after two years with scores of 16 and 4.
Masood hit two sixes and kept Pakistan in the hunt to go 2-0 up in the series before he was undone by Boult.
