New Zealand require just three more wickets to win the third Test after reducing Pakistan to 147-7 in their second innings by tea on the final day.
The hosts lost three before before lunch as they battled to avoid an innings defeat in Sharjah, and they continued to struggle early in the afternoon session.
Mark Craig, who picked up seven wickets in the first innings, made a quick double breakthrough by having Mohammed Hafeez caught and bowled in his first over of the session and sending Misbah-ul-Haq back to the pavilion shortly afterwards.
Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed provided some resistance in the middle order, but Ish Sodhi ended their 72-run partnership when he dismissed Ahmed for 37.
Yasir Shah did not last long, adding just 10 before Sodhi trapped him lbw, but Shafiq reached an unbeaten 51 before the interval and will be the only hope of salvaging a draw in the final session as they closed 192 runs behind.
