New Zealand set Pakistan a target of 319 runs Thursday to win the second Test in Karachi after declaring their second innings at 277-5.
Tom Blundell (74), Michael Bracewell (74 not out) and Tom Latham (62) were among the runs for the tourists after Pakistan were bowled out in the morning for 408.
New Zealand scored 449 in their first innings.
Despite the National Stadium pitch still not causing trouble for the batters, Pakistan pegged back the visitors from 76-1 at lunch.
Latham was smartly caught off a miscued flick at short mid-wicket by Abrar Ahmed from fast-bowler Naseem Shah.
With the total unmoved on 114, in the next over Ahmed trapped Williamson leg-before. Hasan Ali had Nicholls caught soon after as New Zealand lost three wickets off 50 balls for 14 runs.
Field umpires Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar had a horrible day with three of their decisions overturned.
New Zealand were jolted in the second over of their innings when Mir Hamza bowled Conway with his first delivery.
Pakistan wasted two leg-before referrals on Williamson when the batter was on seven and nine, while Latham overturned a decision against him on 36 — all off Ahmed.
At the start of the day, Pakistan were dismissed for 408 after adding just one run to their overnight score, in response to New Zealand’s 449 first-innings total.
The two-match series is tied after the first Test — also in Karachi — ended in a draw.
