Ahmed Shehzad hit a career-best 176 as Pakistan's top order continued to punish a sorry New Zealand attack to reach 471 for three wickets at tea on day two of the first test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
After claiming only one wicket on the first day at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, New Zealand's bowlers were once again made to toil as Pakistan added 202 runs to their overnight score for the loss of two wickets.
Shehzad, who had added 178 runs for the opening partnership with Mohammad Hafeez on Sunday, raised 169 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (87) to put Pakistan on top.
In-form Younus Khan (65) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (44) added 98 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand as Pakistan, having completed a 2-0 series victory over Australia at the same venue last week, look to continue their rich vein of form in the three-match series against New Zealand.
Overnight batsmen Shehzad and Azhar looked largely unperturbed against the Kiwi pace bowlers and used their feet effectively against off-spinner Mark Craig.
Shehzad stepped out to hit Craig over long-on boundary for a six and took three runs off Tim Southee to bring up his 150, bettering his previous best of 147 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah earlier this year.
Corey Anderson, who had removed Hafeez on Sunday, finally got the breakthrough in the final over before lunch when he sent down a bouncer and Shehzad missed the line attempting a hook shot.
The ball hit the side of his helmet and the overbalancing batsman dropped his bat which hit the stump while a dazed-looking Shehzad needed to be helped off the field.
Shehzad hit 17 boundaries and a six in his 371-ball knock.
Azhar, who hit centuries in both innings of his previous test, against Australia and at the same venue, was denied a third successive test century by a sharp-turning Ish Sodhi delivery which pitched outside leg stump, beat the bat and hit the top of the off-stump.
The India-born leg-spinner could have claimed Misbah's wicket as well but Craig could not get his hand to a skier on the first occasion and Jimmy Neesham spilled another in Sodhi's next over.
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