Saud Shakeel hit a maiden hundred to lift Pakistan to 407-9 at stumps Wednesday on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand in Karachi.

The home team now trail New Zealand’s first-innings total of 449 by 42 runs and will look to build a match-winning lead on a National Stadium pitch that is still good for batting.

Shakeel swept spinner Michael Bracewell for a boundary and then took a sharp single to reach three figures in 319 minutes of stoic batting. The 27-year-old was on 124 at the stumps and Abrar Ahmed yet to go off the mark.

After the tea, Pakistan lose four wickets cheaply in the span of just 12 runs off 27 deliveries. Salman Agha looked promising for his 41(78).

Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah scored four runs each as Pakistan scored just 70 runs in the last session and lost four wickets. Mir Hamza’s disappointing Test continued as he went back to the hut without troubling the scorers.

Earlier, Sarfaraz Ahmed was stumped on 78 in the penultimate over before the break, having scored his third consecutive half-century of the series.

Shakeel and Sarfaraz added 150 for the fifth wicket, carrying the innings after Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq for 83 in the first session.

Shakeel has so far struck 14 boundaries, while Sarfaraz – who survived a leg-before decision two balls before his dismissal – had 10 hits to the rope.

Earlier, Haq was snapped-up by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off fast-bowler Tim Southee after Pakistan resumed on 154-3.

On 74 overnight, Haq rebuilt the innings after being involved in skipper Babar Azam’s run-out on Tuesday, but fell in the second hour of the session.

He edged a drive to Blundell, but was only given out after New Zealand challenged the turned-down appeal.

Haq hit ten boundaries and a six in his 244-minute knock.

The two-match series is tied after the first Test – also in Karachi – ended in a draw.