Tom Latham made good on Brendon McCullum winning the toss in Dubai by compiling an unbeaten second century in two Tests.
The 22-year-old left-hander, playing in his sixth Test, batted throughout day one of the second game of three for 137 not out as New Zealand closed on a respectable 243 for three.
It was the only time during four Tests in the United Arab Emirates this winter that Pakistan have not fielded first. They have gone on to win each game by wide margins, including victory over the Black Caps by 248 runs in the first Test.
Despite that loss, New Zealand where unchanged and the hosts made three alterations. With openers Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad injured, Taufeeq Umar and Shan Masood came in at the top of the order while the rested Imran Khan made way for fellow seamer Ehsan Adil.
Aside from an unsuccessful review for lbw early on, Latham and McCullum had few alarms in adding 77 for the first wicket and looked like batting through to lunch until the captain holed out to deep midwicket on the pull against Adil. His 43 included two sixes.
Latham then shared a stand of 76 with Kane Williamson, who was undone on 32 by a beauty from left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar that pitched on the right-hander’s leg stump, turned to beat his defence and hit the off pole.
Just after tea Adil was again unsuccessful with an lbw review, against Ross Taylor, who was soon dropped at silly point off Babar.
In the next over Latham went to three figures but he too was shelled, at gully on 103 by Azhar Ali.
The spill of Taylor was not too costly as he was finally taken at silly point for 32 off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
However Latham, also a first-innings centurion in Abu Dhabi, reached stumps alongside a defensive Corey Anderson to make it the tourists’ day.