NZ spinners strike after Saud hundred in Karachi.

KARACHI -- Saud Shakeel registered his maiden test century but Pakistan's lower-order collapse left the second test against New Zealand evenly poised at Karachi's National Stadium on Wednesday.

The hosts, replying to New Zealand's first-innings 449, finished day three on 407-9 after losing four quick wickets in the final session.

Saud, who forged a 150-run partnership with Sarfaraz Ahmed for the fifth wicket, was unbeaten on 124, which included 17 fours.

Abrar Ahmed, who denied Ish Sodhi a hat-trick, was yet to open his account at the other end.

Saud went into the match with five half-centuries in his first four tests and the hundred duly arrived in his fifth, on his home ground.

Earlier, Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq, who made 83 before falling caught behind off New Zealand captain Tim Southee in the only dismissal of the morning session.

Southee reviewed the original not-out decision and replays confirmed the ball had brushed the toe-end of Imam's bat before nestling in Tom Blundell's gloves.

Sarfaraz (78) joined Saud in a union of local boys who scored freely after the lunch break to narrow the...