Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: New Zealand's top order crumbled against Pakistan in slipping to 186-5 at tea on the third day of the first test on Tuesday.
Only opening batsman Tom Latham, having survived two tough catches, was standing tall on a career-best 87 not out, with BJ Watling unbeaten on 13.
Latham, who made his test debut against India in February, has benefited from the two lapses in his fifth test match, hitting 11 fours in his 193-ball knock.
New Zealand still trails by 380 runs after Pakistan amassed 566-3 before declaring late on the second day.
Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who took 14 wickets in Pakistan's 2-0 victory against Australia, removed captain Brendon McCullum (18) and Ross Taylor for a six-ball duck after New Zealand resumed at the overnight 15-0.
Corey Anderson (48) and Kane Williamson (3) played on to fast bowler Rahat Ali on either side of the lunch break.
While the batsmen found it tough going against Pakistan's bowlers on the slow Abu Dhabi pitch, Latham played superbly.
The left-hander reached his half century by pulling offspinner Mohammad Hafeez to the boundary, taking 125 balls.
He enjoyed aggressive 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Anderson.
Both lefties negated the spinners with some powerful sweep shots before Anderson, who hit eight fours, dragged a wide delivery of Ali back onto his stumps.
Hafeez then cut down New Zealand to 150-5 when James Neesham needlessly walked out of his crease and was smartly stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed on 11.
Earlier, Ali was rewarded for a brilliant spell of five maiden overs when Williamson rolled a yorker back onto his stumps as Pakistan allowed only 66 runs in the first session.
McCullum survived two strong lbw appeals against fast bowler Imran Khan, before Younis Khan took a fine, low catch when the New Zealand skipper pushed hard at Babar's sharp turning delivery.
In the next over, Williamson managed to dig out Ali's delivery only to see the ball hitting the back of the bat and rolling back onto the stumps.
New Zealand's most experienced batsman, Ross Taylor, recovering from a right calf injury, never looked at ease against Babar before offering a tame catch to Asad Shafiq at close-in gully at 47-3.
Pakistan missed two tough chances in an otherwise dominating first session.
Azhar Ali couldn't take a reflex catch at forward short-leg before Latham added a run to his overnight 5. Then, when Latham was on 32, Ahmed missed a thick edge off Hafeez's offspin behind the stumps.
