New Zealand, who are on their first tour of Pakistan after 20 years, have all the chance of sealing their first-ever series win tomorrow. They need eight more wickets and Pakistan need 319 runs to win.

In what was their best passage of play in this series, Pakistan removed New Zealand's top four with 128 runs on board and their lead at 169. Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali and Abrar Ahmed all kept troubling Tom Blundell and Henry Nicholls. The latter perished but Michael Bracewell came in to put a stop to it.

Blundell (74) and Bracewell (74 not out) added 127 for the fifth wicket to take away that short-lived delight from Pakistani fans to put New Zealand back in firm control. 

Just when it felt like New Zealand were going to bat out the day, Tim Southee did the smart thing by declaring at 275/6 and put Pakistan in for just three overs. 

Lo and Behold, the hosts lost two wickets without a single run on board. Abdullah Shafique was done in by an excellent seaming delivery from Southee in the first over while night watchman Mir Hamza was castled yet again by Ish Sodhi's terrific leg spinner.

It will be incredible if Pakistan can battle from here on and win this match, but the odds will heavily favour New Zealand. We will back tomorrow at 10.00 AM (IST) for the live coverage of the final day. It's gonna be a cracker! Until then, its Samarnath Soory, signing off. Bye!

In the meanwhile, here's some sarcastic Kiwi commentary to savour that final ball from Sodhi.

"THROUGH THE GATE ONCE MORE!!!!"

Sodhi bowls Hamza for the second time this Test match to give the @BLACKCAPS a commanding lead heading into Day Five!#NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/3A6t7vAnm5

— SENZ (@SENZ_Radio) January 5, 2023

WHAT A WAY TO END THE DAY! New Zealand have two wickets for zero runs!

Sodhi, just like he dismissed Mir Hamza yesterday, bowls an absolute ripper to end the day. The ball grips the rough outside off and crashes through Hamza's gate and rattles the stumps.

Mir Hamza b Ish Sodhi 0(9b)

Mir Hamza comes in as the night watchman and Imam-ul-Haq takes strike against Matt Henry, who gets all deliveries going across his leg stump. No harm done though. One more over to go!

SOUTHEE STRIKES ON THE SECOND BALL!

Just as expected, the nagging feeling of facing the new ball against a swing bowler of Southee's calibre does Shafique in. He puts his bat forward to defend and the ball sneaks in between his bat and pad and rattles the stumps.

Abdullah Shafique b Tim Southee 0(2b)

Bracewell plays an excellent pull shot off Hasan Ali for a boundary at deep mid-wicket before Mitchell plays two reverse sweeps for two doubles against Salman.

Southee says that's enough and Pakistan will have to score 319 runs to win.

They will also have to bat for just three overs today. New Zealand players are already on the pitch as Pakistan players sprint back to the dressing room. The highest chase in Karachi so far is 314 and looks like the Kiwis have enough.

Some more rushed shots and New Zealand have a lead of 300 runs. There are seven more overs left in the day and the new ball is available for Pakistan. The sparse crowd in the National Stadium has found its voice, cheering on the quick runs that are flowing now.

Agha Salman gets fourth wicket of this match as Blundell goes for a lofted shot and finds the fielder at long-on. It's an excellent innings, but the Kiwis cannot dwell on it. They need to get to a 300-plus target.

Tom Blundell c Imam-ul-Haq b Agha Salman 74(135b, 7x4 1x6)

Daryll Mitchell, who was unwell earlier in the day, walks out to the middle.

Yes!! Finally New Zealand are getting a move on. 

Blundell gets one in the slot and slog sweeps Abrar over deep mid-wicket for a six followed by a ramp shot for a boundary. Bracwell plays an excellent reverse sweep for another boundary.

The lead is 296 and if New Zealand can put Pakistan in to bat for 3 to 4 overs, that will make things very interesting.

Maiden Test fifty for Michael Bracewell, courtesy back to back boundaries off Abrar!

He has done an excellent job in rescuing the second innings with Blundell with whom he has added 112 runs to take the lead to 281 runs. Tim Southee sends a message through 12th man Neil Wagner. Not sure what exactly it is, but I am guessing it might about declaring the innings with nine more overs left in the day. 

It seems to be a thigh strain for Blundell who felt a twinge while running a second. He calls for the physio and gets his left thigh heavily strapped. He looks good to continue but the batting approach has been lethargic in the final session from New Zealand. They have a lead of 266 currently, but it could've closer to the 300 mark had the current pair, having added 97 runs so far, gone for the big shots and added some runs.

If they take too long, they will contribute equally to the somber tone of this entire match.

At some point of time, you have to feel sorry for Abrar. The youngster has bowled his heart out and created more chances than all the other Pakistan bowlers combined but has only one wicket so far. He raps Blundell on the front pad again but the umpire turns it down. The height was a factor and slightly missing the middle stump.

Pakistan interim selection panel, meanwhile, has announced the squad for the ODI series following this Test series which has few surprise recalls and some strange exclusions as well.

🚨 Pakistan squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand 🚨#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/XIULDIB8A0

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2023

Tom Blundell gets to his ninth Test fifty in 91 balls with a single off Naseem Shah. He has survived multiple chances and has managed to rebuild with Bracewell. The strategy for him should be to score quickly and put up a target closer to 300. As the shadows grow bigger from the West stand and the bowlers getting tired, New Zealand can attack more.

There are few dusty spots visible but the pitch is still on the slower side on the final hour of the penultimate day. 

Pakistan interim chief selector Shahid Afridi has his say on it and demanding a bouncy track that can actually benefit Pakistan.

🗣️ "This pitch isn't the type of pitch that I wanted but it's better than the one for the 1st Test."

Shahid Afridi discusses his philosophy about pitches and bouncy tracks.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/wWoNihvXZ1

— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) January 5, 2023

Naseem Shah strangely bowls a trailing-leg no ball as Bracewell takes a single to bring up New Zealand's 200 and the lead moves to 241. However, the window for declaration is getting smaller and smaller for the Kiwis. Bracewell and Blundell were put in survival mode which put a stop to their target-setting plans and them thriving has now put Pakistan back in a leisurely mode. 

By hook or crook Blundell and Bracewell have stitched together a partnership that is worth 53 after Blundell slashes Hamza's low ball past an empty slip region for a boundary.

Bracewell was the one struggling all through out this series against Abrar, who got him thrice. But he dared to take his chance by going for some risky strokes and came out with runs. There were few lucky reprieves but New Zealand got what they wanted -- Runs.

The danger is not yet over because the final two hours of play in the previous three days have been treacherous for the batters under fading light. Spinners will bowl during that time. But if they can be flatter and quicker through the air like Sodhi, Agha Salman and Ajaz Patel have been so far, wickets will fall.

Phenomenal bowling effort from Abrar! He has bowled a marathon 25 overs and is able to create at least one good chance every 10 balls. He can toss it up quite well and can turn the ball better than most on this surface. This time around, he bowls a flipper that hurries on to Blundell and takes a thick edge to the first slip. It needed Abdullah Shafique to react quickly but it comes off his thumb.

Pakistan are closing in on another wicket at the start of the final session!

Mir Hamza almost gets Bracewell to chop on to the stumps. Luckily, the left hander sees the ball roll off his body and tackles the ball just before in falls on his stumps.

Abrar gets the left-hander to play off his pads which falls just short of the leg slip and then traps him in front, but Sarfaraz says not to go for a referral because the ball was pitching wide outside off stump.

Its not all doom and gloom for New Zealand because Bracewell is playing a risk-reward game. He manages to score two excellent boundaries off Hamza and Abrar which were very close to the fielders standing near the stumps.

Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council has announced the group for the 2023 Asia Cup, scheduled to be played in Pakistan. Check out the full details here.

A brilliant session for Pakistan comes to an end as Tom Blundell (22*) and Michael Bracewell (10*) walk back for Tea with a lead of 192 runs and a lot thinking to do.

After only claiming one early wicket of Devon Conway, Pakistan have really found their rhythm as Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and Hasan Ali all struck in succession to bog down New Zealand. Abrar has looked the best of all as his flighted deliveries were a menace. The youngster saw two of his leg before appeals turned down and the subsequent reviews also failing. Pakistan then opted not to review an appeal which was hitting the stumps after losing two of three reviews.

After adding 109 runs for the second wicket with Kane Williamson, Tom Latham was dismissed by Abrar's superb diving catch off Naseem before the leg spinner sent back Williamson in the next over. Tom Blundell survived a chance against him while Henry Nicholls, after struggling for a while, was dismissed for a needless shot in Hasan's bowling.

Babar tells Hasan to round the wicket to Michael Bracewell and places a kneeling gully with helmet along side three slips and a square fielder. Hasan hits the fourth stump before managing to nip one back into the left hander. Bracewell, fortunately, gets some bat to it and survives.

Shafique, who was the kneeling gully fielder, has his chance in the same over as Bracewell gets an outside edge on the drive and just manages to evade the fielder.

Hasan Ali is a funny man. He runs in full steam for another over and Blundell steps away at the last moment. Hasan continues his run nonetheless in what looks like a limping dance which has Sarfaraz wheezing in laughter and down on his knees. This is the most positive Pakistan have looked in this match. They are taking wickets, they are bowling excellent lines and having a laugh.

Wicket for Hasan Ali!

What a poor shot by Nicholls. Hasan goes round the wicket and bangs it in short in the fifth stump line to the left hander. Nicholls tries to force it on the legside with no control whatsoever and only gets a top edge that comfortably loops to Babar at mid-off.

Heny Nicholls c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 5(21b, 1x4)

From being outclassed in the first session, Pakistan are in full control of the situation. It was a similar thing yesterday when they were batting as Sarfaraz Ahmed and Saud Shakeel scored at 5 runs per over in the first hour after lunch.

Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed are asking questions and Nicholls-Blundell are surviving tentative edges, playing out stifling lines and are barely hanging in there. Babar has a short leg and a first slip for Abrar but can pile up the pressure by bringing in a forward short and a short corner for a drive on the up. They shouldn't be allowing the current pair to settle down. They made big cracks in New Zealand's batting, but need to bring down the structure now.

ALMOST TWO IN TWO FOR ABRAR!

This time the wrong-un traps Tom Blundell. It pitches outside off stump and sharply turns to the leg stump and hits Blundell on the front pad. Rather unsurely, he goes for the review and luckily for him, Ultra Edge shows a spike when the ball passes the bat.

In the span of two overs, Pakistan have gained the upper hand and bossing this.

A stretch of seven deliveries, in which the umpire raised his finger thrice, resulting in only one wicket. Sums up the umpiring chronicles in this series.#PAKvNZ

— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) January 5, 2023

ABRAR FINALLY GETS A WICKET!

After all the disappointments through out the day, the leg spinner finally gets his man. Williamson goes for a sweep against a googly and completely misses it. The umpire raises his finger and the batter goes for a review.

The ball was just clipping the leg stump so the umpire's decision stays. This is excellent stuff from Pakistan. They have removed the settled pair and will now hope for two more.

Ummm...a strange decision by the umpire! Naseem beats Nicholls all ends up with a delivery that had a bit of movement.

Sarfaraz is convinced that was a catch and umpire raises his finger. Nicholls straight away goes for the review and there was significant gap between ball and bat. The decision is reversed.

They might have gotten a wicket, but Pakistan are doing the right thing in pressurizing the batters.

Brilliant low catch by Abrar!

Latham plays a leg glance off Naseem Shah and Abrar at square leg sticks his left hand out and it sticks. He didn't get a wicket himself but this catch was gold for Pakistan. Latham, after playing a fluent knock, departs.

Tom Latham c Abrar Ahmed b Naseem Shah 62(103b, 11x4)

It brings Henry Nicholls to the crease.

Abrar for the fourth time today, manages to hit the batter's pads and appeals loudly. With two reviews wasted earlier in the day, Babar is very hesitant and asks Sarfaraz, who shakes his head saying it might be missing leg stump. However, ball tracking shows that the ball was in the line and hitting the leg stump properly. Pakistan players look at the big screen and rue that call.

Pakistan took 2 reviews earlier which were not out. When one was out Pakistan didn’t take it Tom Latham Survived. #PakvNZ pic.twitter.com/lXOSZiQRTw

— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) January 5, 2023

Latham is playing an excellent knock. He is in no discomfort at all and the pitch is helping him. He brings up the 100-run partnership with Williamson 41 with delicate cut past the slip cordon for a boundary. With that New Zealand's lead also increases to 150 runs.

25th Test fifty for Tom Latham!

Brilliant effort from the Pakistan captain!

Latham pulls Abrar's short-pitched ball to mid-wicket where Babar dives to his left and get his fingertips to it. It yields two runs, but it was a brilliant effort from the skipper. Latham moves to 48 with that and Pakistan are still in hunt of that second wicket.

For the second time today, the umpire warns Kane Williamson for walking in the danger area of the pitch to tap down the scuff marks on the pitch. According to MCC's cricketing law No. 41.15, the batting side can be deducted five runs from their score if the umpire deem it as deliberately causing damage to the protected area.

Williamson received a word for running in the same area. He needs to be a bit careful.

Abrar Ahmed starts off the second session and just a single comes off the over. Mir Hamza takes the second over as Babar goes off the field for a while.

Pakistan need at least two quick wickets in this session if they are to force New Zealand in to a corner because they are unsure of Daryll Mitchell's participation today as the allrounder is still unwell.

A total of 26 overs in the first session --- 1 for Pakistan and 25 for New Zealand --- yield 77 runs as Kane Williamson (29) and Tom Latham (37) walk off the pitch with the lead at 117 runs.

The day started with Pakistan all out for 408 in their first innings after adding just a single to their overnight score. Abrar Ahmed was dismissed for a lbw by Ish Sodhi.

Mir Hamza then started things well for Pakistan when he castled Devon Conway with a peach of an in-swinger. Abrar and Hamza troubled Williamson and Latham for a while, but they have managed to keep the scoreboard ticking while surviving few close chances.

New Zealand's aim will be to play at least 55 overs and score as many quick runs as possible to bring Pakistan batters in in the final hour, where a total of 11 wickets have fallen over the last three days.

While Pakistan got two reviews wrong in Abrar's bowling, Tom Latham survives thanks to his better judgement also in Abrar's bowling.

A leg spinner raps him on the front pad as the umpire raises his finger. Latham was confident he will survive and the ball pitching way outside the line helps him. Babar puts his arm around Abrar and tell him its okay.

Williamson gets a warning from the umpire for running in the danger area.

New Zealand lead by 113 runs.

Hasan Ali bangs in a short ball to Williamson, who has all the time to place the ball and he pulls it with ease to the deep mid-wicket boundary. It brings up the 50 for the visitors and their lead is now 93 runs.

Williamson started slow, but has played some delightful shots through small gaps in the field to move to 23 while Latham is more or less playing the supporting role on 19. If the Black Caps can score quickly and declare before the final hour's play, a target of 250-270 can be good. But they don't have a strong bowling line-up, so more than 300 is most likely.

For the second straight over by Abrar, Pakistan lose another review and are left with one for the day. Its a very good ball from Abrar, who gets excellent drift on this ball and fires it on Williamson's toes.

Babar was standing at extra cover and goes for the review after Sarfaraz tells him its a sure shot dismissal this time. But unfortunately, the ball tracking shows that it was turning far away from the leg stump. Sarfaraz has to shoulder the blame for that.

Kane Williamson then takes a couple down the ground to reach 7000 Test runs batting at No.3 as he joins an elite list of five batters to get to that mark --- Kumar Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Hashim Amla.

Let's hope Pakistan don't regret wasting those two DRS reviews. #PAKvNZ

— dizzy dover 👀🖊️📖 (@dizzydover) January 5, 2023

Leg spinner Abrar Ahmed is introduced and he raps Kane Williamson on the pads with a wrong-un. The right hander goes for a sweep but misses. Saud Shakeel and Sarfaraz are sure and so is the bowler. However, the ball was drifting down the leg side even though Williamson hasn't gloved it. 

Babar should've seen the unmoved expressionless of the umpire, who just clicked on his ball counter after the appeal. There is some microscopic criticism on Babar's DRS failures lately, but he has to listen to the people standing nearby as well. In this case, it was Abrar's word against Sarfaraz and Shakeel and all were confident.

Consistently going across the stumps to left-handed Latham and hitting the wobble seam to deviate away from right-handed Williamson and then getting one to moving in to the batsmen. This has been Hamza's strategy so far and its working beautifully.

It has Sarfaraz Ahmed smiling ear to ear behind the stumps after the left armer beats Williamson all ends up with a peach. He concedes a boundary at third man, but Babar is not worried. He claps in appreciation for his pacer's efforts.

Naseem manages to move the ball into Williamson and raps him on the pad. He goes for a lone appeal and thinks he has got his man. Babar tells him that there were two sounds and decides not to go for the review.

New Zealand need to survive this spell as Naseem has the ability to swing the ball both ways and has a traditional two-slip cordon and a backward point for his line. Williamson was undone by the teenage pacer in the first innings and he is once again looking dangerous.

Absolute ripper from Mir Hamza and Conway is on his way back!

The left-armer, who has been waiting for a Test wicket since four years, finally gets one and its the prized scalp of Devon Conway. Round the wicket, angling in to the middle stump and seams off the surface. Conway goes for a lethargic drive and the ball clips his off stump.

Devon Conway b Mir Hamza 0(1b)

It brings last Test's double centurion Kane Williamson to the crease.

Castled first ball! 🎯

A beauty from @mirhamza_k ✨#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/6exFoeW3FJ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2023

41 runs might not look big but on this pitch, anything is better than nothing. Naseem Shah starts with a massive wide to Latham before straying on his pads and conceding a boundary.

The small good news is that they have a lead in this match, but the bad news for New Zealand is that Daryll Mitchell hasn't taken to the field today. The broadcasters say he is still at the hotel and is unwell. So there is a missing link in their middle order and a wicket less for Pakistan if they can make early inroads.

Sodhi (3-95) and Ajaz Patel (3-88) are once again the pick of the visiting bowlers while Tim Southee (1-62), Matt Henry (1-58) and Mitchell (1-11) made key breakthroughs in the top and middle order.

THAT'S THE END OF PAKISTAN'S INNINGS. New Zealand have a 41-run lead. It's slender, but they'll take it.

Pakistan's first innings lasts all but six balls and add one run to their overnight score. Ish Sodhi traps Abrar plumb in front of the middle stump and the umpire has no issues raising his finger. He goes for a duck and Shakeel remains not out on 125.

Abrar Ahmed lbw b Ish Sodhi 0(10b)

"Quite encouraging to see the ball turn from the middle of the wicket. There is a bit more bounce and the seamers have got some help than the first two games as well."

Pitch Report: Little to no degradation. There is some reverse swing for pacers at certain lengths and there are scuff marks for spinners to exploit.

Saud Shakeel (124) and Abrar Ahmed (0) walk out to the middle and Sodhi will bowl the first over. Pakistan trail by 42 runs. Here we go!

Hello and welcome to Cricket.com's live coverage of the fourth day of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Having done the hard work on a punishing surface for bowlers on the third day, Tim Southee's New Zealand sit just one wicket away from taking a slender lead on the fourth day's morning. Pakistan tested the visitors physically and mentally all day after by batting for three sessions and losing six wickets -- four of them falling in the final session in the gap of 12 runs. Until then, they looked in a good position when Imam-Ul-Haq (83) was at the crease and Sarfaraz Ahmed (78) and Saud Shakeel (124 batting) added 150 for the fifth wicket.

However, Pakistan have batted at an agonizingly slow rate where they scored 285 runs after playing 85 overs on Day 3. Shakeel himself showed no intent in getting runs and took his own sweet time of 336 balls, 66 overs that is, to remain unbeaten at the end. He could've ground New Zealand bowlers to the dust and put Pakistan in a far better position had he scored more freely.

New Zealand did their job though. They don't have express pace in their ranks, but Daryll Mitchell, Tim Southee and Matt Henry were among wickets while Ajaz Patel (3-88), Ish Sodhi (2-94) ensured they were in better position at the end of day. 

There is not much degradation of the pitch and if New Zealand can get the all out and declare by the end of today, it will make for an interesting final day. But, if they continue in the same vein as Pakistan, it will mostly head towards another drab draw. Fingers crossed for some exciting cricket in the 180 overs remaining in the match.

Here's what New Zealand keeper Tom Blundell had to say at the end of Day three's play

Tom Blundell's press conference following the third day's play.#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai https://t.co/vjlebVpgJZ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 4, 2023