New Zealand were struggling at 3-81 at lunch on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar took two wickets and paceman Rahat Ali one as New Zealand lost three key wickets after resuming at 0-15.

At the break Rod Latham was batting on 42 and with him Corey Anderson on 13.

The Kiwis still need 286 runs to avoid the follow-on after Pakistan piled up a huge 3-566 declared in their first innings.

Brendon McCullum (18), Kane Williamson (3) and Ros Taylor (0) were the batsmen out.

Babar has figures of 2-37 while Rahat has taken 1-1.